A branch-like Mo-doped Ni3S2 nanoforest as a high-efficiency and durable catalyst for overall urea electrolysis

Design and fabrication of high-efficiency electrocatalysts are important to generate hydrogen via urea electrocatalysis with the minimum required energy. In this study, in situ growth of a branch-like Mo-doped Ni3S2 nanoforest on Ni foam was achieved through a facile one-pot hydrothermal process. The as-obtained catalyst exhibited excellent activity and robust durability because of its unique hierarchical nanostructures and doping-optimized electronic structural configuration, and required merely 1.33 V (vs. RHE) and 90 mV (overpotential) to attain a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), without any noticeable loss in activity even after 120 h of operation. On the basis of the experimental results and theoretical calculations, it was confirmed that the incorporation of Mo in Ni3S2 altered the morphology and electronic structure of the catalyst; hence, more active sites were exposed and the Gibbs adsorption energy of the intermediates in the UOR was optimized. Notably, the overall urea electrolysis cell could afford a low voltage of 1.45 V (vs. RHE) to attain a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and showed excellent durability over 120 h. The findings from this study provide new insights into efficient electrocatalysts for urea electrolyzers, which hold great potential in electrochemical energy conversion and sewage treatment applications.