Kim, Jiwon Choi, Hyung Wook Choi, Hyuk Han, Man Ho Kwon, Seok Bin Oh, Hyung-Suk Kim, Hyun You Yoon, Dae Ho 2024-11-20T07:00:06Z 2024-11-20T07:00:06Z 2024-11-20 2024-11 0926-3373 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/151117 Due to the sluggish water dissociation in the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the developed electrocatalysts are crucial for enhanced water electrolysis. Herein, we present the nickel metal confined in pyrrolic-N-rich carbon nanoplates (Ni@NCP) for efficient alkaline HER. Benefiting from the polydopamine-derived pyrrolic-N-rich carbon, the uniformly distributed nickel nanoparticles maximize the electrocatalytic sites and are stable without severe corrosion under alkaline media. The in-situ and ex-situ analyses and density functional theory demonstrate that the pyrrolic-N modulates the Ni and C as dual active sites to facilitate the cleavage of the HO-H bond and the proton spillover, resulting in an acceleration of water dissociation and HER kinetics. As a result, Ni@NCP exhibits a low overpotential of 42？mV at 10？mA/cm2 current density and a Tafel slope of 94.9？mV/dec. This study not only provides insights into the structure-properties relationships, also emphasizes the importance of kinetically designing for various electrocatalytic applications. English Elsevier BV Kinetic-oriented design of pyrrolic-N induced Ni and C dual sites for exceptional H2O dissociation and alkaline HER Article 10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.124324 1 Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, v.357 Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy 357 N scie scopus 001369172400001 Chemistry, Physical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Chemistry Engineering Article Nickel nanoparticles N-doped carbon Pyrrolic-N Water dissociation Hydrogen evolution reaction