title: Misfit-layered Bi1.85 Sr2 Co1.85 O7.7-δ for the hydrogen evolution reaction: beyond van der Waals heterostructures.
abstract: Recent research on stable 2D nanomaterials has led to the discovery of new materials for energy-conversion and energy-storage applications. A class of layered heterostructures known as misfit-layered chalcogenides consists of well-defined atomic layers and has previously been applied as thermoelectric materials for use as high-temperature thermoelectric batteries. The performance of such misfit-layered chalcogenides in electrochemical applications, specifically the hydrogen evolution reaction, is currently unexplored. Herein, a misfit-layered chalcogenide consisting of CoO2 layers interleaved with an SrO-BiO-BiO-SrO rock-salt block and having the formula Bi1.85 Sr2 Co1.85 O7.7-δ is synthesized and examined for its structural and electrochemical properties. The hydrogen-evolution performance of misfit-layered Bi1.85 Sr2 Co1.85 O7.7-δ , which has an overpotential of 589 mV and a Tafel slope of 51 mV per decade, demonstrates the promising potential of misfit-layered chalcogenides as electrocatalysts instead of classical carbon.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Science, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371 (Singapore).
authors.forename: Chun Kiang
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Zdeněk
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sofer
authors.forename: Ondřej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jankovský
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pumera
keywords: chalcogenides; electrochemistry; energy conversion; hydrogen; layered compounds