Recent Advances in the Electrocatalytic Application of Transition Metal Nitrides Nanocrystalline

The energy crisis and environmental problems are becoming more and more severe due to the long-term consumption of fossil fuels. Therefore, energy conversion devices with high energy density and environmental friendliness (such as fuel cells, metal-air batteries, etc.) have been ex-pected to be reliable alternatives to traditional fossil energy. However, due to the inevitable use of precious metals as the electrode catalysts for these devices, the popularization of these alternatives is seriously hindered. Transition metal nitrides (TMNs) exhibit similar surface and adsorption properties to noble metals since the atomic distance between metal atoms increases and the d-band center of metal atoms downshift after the nitrogen atoms enter the metal lattice. TMNs have become one of the best electrode materials to replace noble metal electrocatalysts in energy storage and conversion devices. In this review, the latest development in the electrocatalytic ap-plication of TMNs nanocrystalline is covered. Firstly, we briefly discuss the structure and activity origin of TMNs and introduce the common physical and chemical methods for the preparation of TMNs. Subsequently, we illustrate the applications of unary TMNs and multivariate TMNs in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Finally, we summarize the challenges and problems of TMNs encountered at the present stage, and expect its future de-velopment.

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Promoting the Performance of Li–CO2 Batteries via Constructing Three-Dimensional Interconnected K+ Doped MnO2 Nanowires Networks

Frontiers in Chemistry ◽

10.3389/fchem.2021.670612 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Zhuolin Tang ◽

Mengming Yuan ◽

Huali Zhu ◽

Guang Zeng ◽

Jun Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Noble Metals ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Low Cost ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

High Energy ◽

High Energy Density ◽

Cycle Performance ◽

Energy Storage And Conversion ◽

Actual Application ◽

Charge Process

Nowadays, Li–CO2 batteries have attracted enormous interests due to their high energy density for integrated energy storage and conversion devices, superiorities of capturing and converting CO2. Nevertheless, the actual application of Li–CO2 batteries is hindered attributed to excessive overpotential and poor lifespan. In the past decades, catalysts have been employed in the Li–CO2 batteries and been demonstrated to reduce the decomposition potential of the as-formed Li2CO3 during charge process with high efficiency. However, as a representative of promising catalysts, the high costs of noble metals limit the further development, which gives rise to the exploration of catalysts with high efficiency and low cost. In this work, we prepared a K+ doped MnO2 nanowires networks with three-dimensional interconnections (3D KMO NWs) catalyst through a simple hydrothermal method. The interconnected 3D nanowires network catalysts could accelerate the Li ions diffusion, CO2 transfer and the decomposition of discharge products Li2CO3. It is found that high content of K+ doping can promote the diffusion of ions, electrons and CO2 in the MnO2 air cathode, and promote the octahedral effect of MnO6, stabilize the structure of MnO2 hosts, and improve the catalytic activity of CO2. Therefore, it shows a high total discharge capacity of 9,043 mAh g−1, a low overpotential of 1.25 V, and a longer cycle performance.

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Recent advances of two-dimensional transition metal nitrides for energy storage and conversion applications

FlatChem ◽

10.1016/j.flatc.2019.100149 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

pp. 100149 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Yang Zheng ◽

Xingxing Li ◽

Chaoran Pi ◽

Hao Song ◽

Biao Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Storage ◽

Transition Metal ◽

Energy Storage And Conversion ◽

Metal Nitrides ◽

Two Dimensional ◽

Transition Metal Nitrides ◽

Recent Advances

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Recent advances in biomass‐derived carbon, mesoporous materials, and transition metal nitrides as new electrode materials for supercapacitor: A short review

International Journal of Energy Research ◽

10.1002/er.6377 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mohd Asyadi Azam ◽

Nik Suhaini Nik Ramli ◽

Nurul Aini Nadirah Mohd Nor ◽

Tuan Idzuddin Tuan Nawi

Keyword(s):

Transition Metal ◽

Mesoporous Materials ◽

Electrode Materials ◽

Short Review ◽

Metal Nitrides ◽

Transition Metal Nitrides ◽

Recent Advances

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First Principle Study of the Optical Properties of Transition Metal Nitrides XN (X=Ti, Zr, Hf)

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.668.710 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 668 ◽

pp. 710-714 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jin Wang ◽

Feng Li ◽

Jing Ao ◽

Ying Zhong ◽

Zhi Qian Chen

Keyword(s):

Optical Properties ◽

Transition Metal ◽

Interband Transition ◽

High Energy ◽

Metal Nitrides ◽

Face Centered Cubic ◽

First Principle ◽

Transition Metal Nitrides ◽

Band Structures ◽

Valence Bands

The optical properties of face-centered cubic IVB group transition metal nitrides such as TiN, ZrN, and HfN were calculated using the plane wave pseudopotential method based on first-principle density function theory. The results of band structures show that conduction bands are mainly formed by the metal atom d-state, whereas valence bands are mainly formed by the N 2p-state. In optical properties research, the computed results of complex dielectric functions, absorptions, reflectivities, conductivities and loss functions of the three materials are analysed in terms of band structures. The results agree with experiment data. Analysis results show that the optical properties of these materials in low-energy regions are metallic because of the free electrons intraband-transition, and the transit to semiconducting properties in high-energy area is caused by valence electrons interband-transition. The sharp peaks of the transmissivity spectra indicate excellent optical selectivity in the visible light area. Moreover, lowering the starting energies of interband-transitions as a possible method to improve optical selectivities is discussed

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Plasmonics on the slope of enlightenment: the role of transition metal nitrides

Faraday Discussions ◽

10.1039/c4fd00208c ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 178 ◽

pp. 71-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 66

Author(s):

Urcan Guler ◽

Alexander V. Kildishev ◽

Alexandra Boltasseva ◽

Vladimir M. Shalaev

Keyword(s):

Transition Metal ◽

Noble Metals ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Near Field ◽

Metal Nitrides ◽

Transition Metal Nitrides ◽

Plasmonic Materials ◽

New Material ◽

Application Specific

The key problem currently faced by plasmonics is related to material limitations. After almost two decades of extreme excitement and research largely based on the use of noble metals, scientists have come to a consensus on the importance of exploring alternative plasmonic materials to address application-specific challenges to enable the development of new functional devices. Such a change in motivation will undoubtedly lead to significant advancements in plasmonics technology transfer and could have a revolutionary impact on nanophotonic technologies in general. Here, we report on one of the approaches that, together with other new material platforms, mark an insightful technology-driven era for plasmonics. Our study focuses on transition metal nitrides as refractory plasmonic materials that exhibit appealing optical properties in the visible and near infrared regions, along with high temperature durability. We take heat-assisted magnetic recording as a case study for plasmonic technology and show that a titanium nitride antenna satisfies the requirements for an optically efficient, durable near field transducer paving the way to the next-generation data recording systems.

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Refractory plasmonics: orientation-dependent plasmonic coupling in TiN and ZrN nanocubes

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics ◽

10.1039/c7cp04933a ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 1881-1888 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Ahmed H. El-Saeed ◽

Nageh K. Allam

Keyword(s):

Transition Metal ◽

Noble Metals ◽

Metal Nitrides ◽

Transition Metal Nitrides ◽

Plasmonic Coupling ◽

Plasmonic Materials

Transition metal nitrides have recently been considered as potential replacements for noble metals as plasmonic materials.

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Recent Progress on Transition Metal Nitrides Nanoparticles as Heterogeneous Catalysts

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano9081111 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 1111 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

A.B. Dongil

Keyword(s):

Transition Metal ◽

Noble Metals ◽

Heterogeneous Catalysts ◽

Short Review ◽

Catalytic Performance ◽

Synthetic Methods ◽

Synthesis Methods ◽

Metal Nitrides ◽

Transition Metal Nitrides ◽

Ternary Metal

This short review aims at providing an overview of the most recent literature regarding transition metal nitrides (TMN) applied in heterogeneous catalysis. These materials have received renewed attention in the last decade due to its potential to substitute noble metals mainly in biomass and energy transformations, the decomposition of ammonia being one of the most studied reactions. The reactions considered in this review are limited to thermal catalysis. However the potential of these materials spreads to other key applications as photo- and electrocatalysis in hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. Mono, binary and exceptionally ternary metal nitrides have been synthetized and evaluated as catalysts and, in some cases, promoters are added to the structure in an attempt to improve their catalytic performance. The objective of the latest research is finding new synthesis methods that allow to obtain smaller metal nanoparticles and increase the surface area to improve their activity, selectivity and stability under reaction conditions. After a brief introduction and description of the most employed synthetic methods, the review has been divided in the application of transition metal nitrides in the following reactions: hydrotreatment, oxidation and ammonia synthesis and decomposition.

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A review on transition metal nitrides as electrode materials for supercapacitors

Ceramics International ◽

10.1016/j.ceramint.2019.07.151 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 45 (17) ◽

pp. 21062-21076 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Yansong Zhou ◽

Wen Guo ◽

Tao Li

Keyword(s):

Transition Metal ◽

Electrode Materials ◽

Metal Nitrides ◽

Transition Metal Nitrides

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Stress-controlled decomposition routes in cubic AlCrN films assessed by in-situ high-temperature high-energy grazing incidence transmission X-ray diffraction

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-54307-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. Meindlhumer ◽

S. Klima ◽

N. Jäger ◽

A. Stark ◽

H. Hruby ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Temperature ◽

Transition Metal ◽

Stress Level ◽

Grazing Incidence ◽

High Energy ◽

Metal Nitrides ◽

Transition Metal Nitrides ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

X Ray

AbstractThe dependence of decomposition routes on intrinsic microstructure and stress in nanocrystalline transition metal nitrides is not yet fully understood. In this contribution, three Al0.7Cr0.3N thin films with residual stress magnitudes of −3510, −4660 and −5930 MPa in the as-deposited state were in-situ characterized in the range of 25–1100 °C using in-situ synchrotron high-temperature high-energy grazing-incidence-transmission X-ray diffraction and temperature evolutions of phases, coefficients of thermal expansion, structural defects, texture as well as residual, thermal and intrinsic stresses were evaluated. The multi-parameter experimental data indicate a complex intrinsic stress and phase changes governed by a microstructure recovery and phase transformations taking place above the deposition temperature. Though the decomposition temperatures of metastable cubic Al0.7Cr0.3N phase in the range of 698–914 °C are inversely proportional to the magnitudes of deposition temperatures, the decomposition process itself starts at the same stress level of ~−4300 MPa in all three films. This phenomenon indicates that the particular compressive stress level functions as an energy threshold at which the diffusion driven formation of hexagonal Al(Cr)N phase is initiated, provided sufficient temperature is applied. In summary, the unique synchrotron experimental setup indicated that residual stresses play a decisive role in the decomposition routes of nanocrystalline transition metal nitrides.

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