Electrocatalytic Organic Dye Pollutants Degradation with Green Hydrogen Recovery using Nanoscale NiSe Catalysts
摘要
This work investigates the potential for simultaneous water pollutant treatment and green H2 generation through the use of a highly active catalyst material in the water electrolysis process. We synthesised nanoscale Ni2Se3 through a solvothermal method, analysing the crystallite structure through X-ray diffraction analysis. The electrochemical properties of as-synthesised Ni2Se3 nanoscale catalysts were studied by using both a freshwater and dyewater electrolyte. Interestingly, the dyewater displayed an increased electrocatalytic activity as a result of the organic pollutants oxidising. We demonstrated the feasibility of benchmarking the Ni2Se3 catalyst in methyl orange (model pollutant) dye pollutant degradation whilst simultaneously recovering hydrogen gas. The Ni2Se3-coated stainless steel anode resulted in 71.9% dye degradation over 180 min at 1.67 V vs RHE. Feasibility of hydrogen recovery during dye degradation process was examined. Interestingly, protons produced from dye degradation process at Ni2Se3 anode, further reduced at cathode which generated approximately 0.81 L cm−2 of green hydrogen gas per day. This work explores an interesting investigation into the utilisation of a less expensive electrocatalyst to address the environmental clean-up and energy demand issues concurrently. Furthermore, it opens a circular economy pathway of recovering hydrogen gas from wastewater treatment.
Graphical Abstract