A process for oxidizing water using hydrated cobalt molybdenum is disclosed. A plurality of hydrated cobalt molybdenum nanoparticles are supported on an electrode and are able to catalytically interact with water molecules generating oxygen. The catalyst can be used as part of an electrochemical or photo-electrochemical cell for the generation of electrical energy.

A method for making a metal oxyhydroxide electrocatalytic material comprises titrating a precursor solution with a (bi)carbonate salt, the precursor solution comprising a first metal salt and a solvent, wherein the titration induces reactions between the (bi)carbonate salt and the first metal salt to provide first metal carbonate species in the titrated precursor solution; and exposing the titrated precursor solution to microwave radiation to decompose the first metal carbonate species to form the metal oxyhydroxide electrocatalytic material and carbon dioxide. Mixed metal oxyhydroxide electrocatalytic materials such as nickel-iron oxyhydroxide may be formed. Also provided are the materials themselves, electrocatalytic systems comprising the materials, and methods of using the materials and systems.

A photochemical electrode includes: an electrically-conductive layer; and a photo-excited material layer including a photo-excited material provided over the electrically-conductive layer, wherein in a surface of the photo-excited material layer, a lattice plane having highest atomic density in a crystal structure of the photo-excited material is oriented in a surface direction of the surface of the photo-excited material layer.

The invention provides an electrocatalyst. The electrocatalyst comprises carbon nanospikes (CNS) and copper nanoparticles. The copper nanoparticles are supported on and/or embedded in the CNS. The electrocatalyst can be used to convert carbon dioxide into ethanol.

The invention provides an electrocatalyst. The electrocatalyst comprises carbon nanospikes (CNS) and copper nanoparticles. The copper nanoparticles are supported on and/or embedded in the CNS. The electrocatalyst can be used to convert carbon dioxide into ethanol.

The present invention provides an electrocatalytic material and a method for making an electrocatalytic material. There is also provided an electrocatalytic material comprising amorphous metal or mixed metal oxides. There is also provided methods of forming an electrocatalyst, comprising an amorphous metal oxide film.

The present invention provides an electrocatalytic material and a method for making an electrocatalytic material. There is also provided an electrocatalytic material comprising amorphous metal or mixed metal oxides. There is also provided methods of forming an electrocatalyst, comprising an amorphous metal oxide film.

An electrode suitable as chlorine-evolving anode in electrolytic cells and a method for obtaining thereof is provided. The electrode has a metal substrate coated with a catalytic composition made of thin layers based on oxides of tin, iridium and ruthenium and combines excellent characteristics of anodic potential and selectivity with respect to the reaction of chlorine evolution without resorting to the use of dopants such as platinum and palladium.

A system and method for generating hydrogen gas from an aqueous solution are disclosed herein. The system comprises a compartment with a working electrode for reducing water in response to an applied voltage to generate hydrogen and a redox-active electrode capable of reversibly undergoing oxidation and reduction. The system may further comprise a second compartment with a working electrode for generating oxygen and redox-active electrode electrically connectable to the redox-active electrode in the first compartment. The method comprises applying a voltage between a working electrode and a redox-active electrode of a system described herein and/or between comprising a working electrode of one compartment and a working electrode of a second compartment of a system described herein.

Electrodes useful in dye sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells provide a coreshell nanoparticle having a chromophore and a catalyst, or a chromophore-catalyst assembly, linked to the shell material. Optionally, an overlayer stabilizes the chromophore or chromophore-catalyst assembly on the shell material. In some embodiments, the core material comprises tin oxide; the shell material comprises titanium dioxide; the chromophore-catalyst assembly includes [(PO.sub.3H.sub.2).sub.2bpy).sub.2Ru(4-Mebpy-4′-bimpy)Ru(tpy) (OH.sub.2)].sup.4+, and the overlayer comprises aluminum oxide or titanium dioxide.