J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2024, Vol. 199: 66-74.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2024.02.037

• Research article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Modulating Fe/P ratios in Fe-P alloy through smelting reduction for long-term electrocatalytic overall water splitting

Tian Zhanga, Xiaohui Rena,*, Shuai Moa, Wenzhe Caoa, Chaogang Zhoub, Feng Mac, Rongsheng Chenc, Chao Zengd, Li Shie, Tao Liua, Hua Zhanga, Hongwei Nia,*   

  1. aThe State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Key Laboratory for Ferrous Metallurgy and Resources Utilization of Ministry of Education & Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for New Processes of Ironmaking and Steel Making, Faculty of Materials, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China;
    bCollege of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China;
    cSchool of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China;
    dInstitute of Advanced Materials, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China;
    eSchool of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
  • Received:2023-11-10 Revised:2024-01-18 Accepted:2024-02-05 Published:2024-11-10 Online:2024-11-07
  • Contact: *E-mail addresses:xhren@wust.edu.cn (X. Ren), nihongwei@wust.edu.cn (H. Ni)

Abstract: Owing to strong Fe-P interaction that differs the electron distribution beneath metal/phosphide interface of Fe-P alloy, the charge transfer of Fe-P alloy has been accelerated during the electrocatalytic oxidation process and improved the efficiency and durability of overall water splitting. In this work, a novel metallurgical technology in combination with smelting reduction and Single Roller Melting Spinning (SRMS) for the purpose of electrochemical overall water splitting where High-phosphorus Oolitic Iron Ore (HPOIO) has been directly used as the main raw material is developed for preparing amorphous Fe-P alloys strips. The rational modulation on the Fe/P ratio can alter the crystal structure and crystallinity of Fe-P alloy, favor electron transfer, and further trap the positively charged H+. The obtained FeP electrocatalyst exhibits 436 and 527 mV at 10 mA cm-1 with Tafel slopes of 102.3 and 77.2 mV dec-1 for HER and OER in 1.0 mol/L KOH solution, respectively, especially with long-term stability (∼207 h for HER and ∼42 h for OER). Specifically, the DFT calculation displaying structural advantages and componential superiorities exhibited that P in Fe-P amorphous alloy regulated by systematic P addition optimization might increase the energy density in the Fermi level. Furthermore, the phosphorus content brought about high active surface areas, low impedance, and variable reaction paths-caused low reaction energy barriers with the improved amorphicity and absorption and desorption of intermediates, thereby boosting the overall water splitting activity. This study displays a novel strategy to develop Fe-P amorphous alloy for the stable and efficient overall water splitting.

Key words: High-phosphorus, Oolitic Iron Ore, Fe-P alloy, Smelting reduction, Electrocatalysis Overall water splitting