Highly efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution coupled with upcycling of microplastics in seawater enabled via Ni3N/W5N4 janus nanostructures

Electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) coupled with microplastics reforming are critical for marine energy and environmental engineering, but filled with challenges. Herein, Ni3N/W5N4 Janus nanostructure with barrier-free heterointerface was designed via transition metal nitrides-inducing growth strategy. Benefiting from the interface synergistic effect, super-hydrophilic surface and multilevel Janus structure, Ni3N/W5N4 electrode displays Pt-like HER performance and the outstanding stability (similar to 300 h) under industrially current. Meanwhile, Ni3N/W5N4 also exhibits high activity and selectivity toward electro-reforming of plastics, showing an ultralow overpotential of 1.33 V (eta(10)) and generating the value-added HCOOH with the high Faradic efficiency of-85%. Impressively, driven by solar panels, the bifunctional Ni3N/W5N4 electrocatalyst achieves the highly efficient production of H-2 and HCOOH (eta(10) =1.4 V-eta solar to hydrogen=16.04%) in seawater full of plastics. This work underlines the on-site upgrading of plastic wastes and energy-saving hydrogen evolution in seawater enabled by the design of Janus heterostructures for metal nitrides.

Automated summary

In this study, a Ni3N/W5N4 nanostructure was designed to achieve efficient electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and microplastics reforming. The new material exhibits Pt-like HER performance and excellent stability, enabling the upgrading of plastic wastes and energy-saving hydrogen production in seawater.