A cathode is provided for electrolysis of water wherein the cathode material comprises a multi-principal element, transition metal dichalcogenide material that has four or more chemical elements and that is a single phase, solid solution. The pristine cathode material does not contain platinum as a principal (major) component. However, a cathode comprising a transition metal dichalcogenide having platinum (Pt) nanosized islands or precipitates disposed thereon is also provided.

A cathode is provided for electrolysis of water wherein the cathode material comprises a multi-principal element, transition metal dichalcogenide material that has four or more chemical elements and that is a single phase, solid solution. The pristine cathode material does not contain platinum as a principal (major) component. However, a cathode comprising a transition metal dichalcogenide having platinum (Pt) nanosized islands or precipitates disposed thereon is also provided.

Carbon-based single metal atom or bimetallic, trimetallic, or multimetallic alloy transition metal-containing catalysts derived from exoelectrogen bacteria and their methods of making and using thereof are described. The method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a solution medium comprising at least an electron donor and an electron acceptor comprised of one or more salts of a transition metal; (b) providing exoelectrogen bacterial cells and mixing the exoelectrogen bacterial cells into the solution medium of step (a); (c) incubating the solution medium of step (b); (d) isolating the exoelectrogen bacterial cells from the incubated solution medium of step (c); and (e) pyrolyzing the exoelectrogen bacterial cells resulting in formation of the catalyst. The electron donor can be formate, acetate, or hydrogen.

Carbon-based single metal atom or bimetallic, trimetallic, or multimetallic alloy transition metal-containing catalysts derived from exoelectrogen bacteria and their methods of making and using thereof are described. The method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a solution medium comprising at least an electron donor and an electron acceptor comprised of one or more salts of a transition metal; (b) providing exoelectrogen bacterial cells and mixing the exoelectrogen bacterial cells into the solution medium of step (a); (c) incubating the solution medium of step (b); (d) isolating the exoelectrogen bacterial cells from the incubated solution medium of step (c); and (e) pyrolyzing the exoelectrogen bacterial cells resulting in formation of the catalyst. The electron donor can be formate, acetate, or hydrogen.

The present invention relates to catalysts or catalytic systems comprising liquid metals, and in particular, to catalysts or catalytic systems comprising liquid metals droplets dispersed in a solvent, as well as to methods and uses of such catalysts or catalytic systems. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a ‘green’ carbon capture and conversion technology offering scalability and economic viability for mitigating CO.sub.2 emissions.

A cobalt catalyst and a preparation method thereof are provided. The cobalt catalyst includes a carrier and a catalytically active substance; the carrier is a cobalt-based substrate material; the catalytically active substance is grown on the surface of the carrier, and the catalytically active substance has a morphology of hydrangea-shaped nanospheres. The cobalt catalyst is an autogenously grown monolithic nanosphere catalyst with a three-dimensional structure assembled by nano-sheets on the catalyst surface. The cobalt catalyst has a high specific surface area and can fully expose the catalytically active sites to enhance the catalytic efficiency. Compared to a nanowire catalyst, the cobalt catalyst has better self-supporting properties, and the active components are not easily aggregated nor fall off during a use process. Therefore, the cobalt catalyst has a longer service life.

A cobalt catalyst and a preparation method thereof are provided. The cobalt catalyst includes a carrier and a catalytically active substance; the carrier is a cobalt-based substrate material; the catalytically active substance is grown on the surface of the carrier, and the catalytically active substance has a morphology of hydrangea-shaped nanospheres. The cobalt catalyst is an autogenously grown monolithic nanosphere catalyst with a three-dimensional structure assembled by nano-sheets on the catalyst surface. The cobalt catalyst has a high specific surface area and can fully expose the catalytically active sites to enhance the catalytic efficiency. Compared to a nanowire catalyst, the cobalt catalyst has better self-supporting properties, and the active components are not easily aggregated nor fall off during a use process. Therefore, the cobalt catalyst has a longer service life.

An electrode catalyst for a water electrolysis cell includes a catalyst, and a polymer of intrinsic microporosity having a Tröger's base skeleton containing a quaternary ammonium group. A water electrolysis cell includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is disposed between the anode and the cathode. At least one selected from the group consisting of the anode and the cathode includes the electrode catalyst.

An electrode catalyst for a water electrolysis cell includes a catalyst, and a polymer of intrinsic microporosity having a Tröger's base skeleton containing a quaternary ammonium group. A water electrolysis cell includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is disposed between the anode and the cathode. At least one selected from the group consisting of the anode and the cathode includes the electrode catalyst.

A method for ambient-temperature synthesis of a catalyst for water electrolysis by dissolving an amount of an Fe.sup.2+ source and optionally an amount of a salt of another divalent cation in deionized water at ambient temperature to form a solution, placing nickel (Ni) foam into the solution, whereby the Ni foam serves as a substrate and/or a Ni source for growth of the catalyst, leaving the Ni foam in the solution at ambient temperature for a time duration in a range of from about 0.5 hour to about 4 hours to provide a treated foam, during which time duration, the catalyst is grown on the substrate, and removing the treated foam from the solution after the time duration, wherein the treated foam comprises the catalyst grown thereon.