Nanoscale CuTe electrocatalyst immobilized at conductor surface for remarkable hydrogen

Hydrogen generation from electrocatalytic water splitting is of supreme significance for resolving energy crisis and environmental concerns. However, developing earth-abundant, efficient, and durable electrocatalyst for high-performance hydrogen evolution and com-plete water splitting catalysis is a rare instance. We present here the first demonstration of unique copper tellurides nano-structures (CuTe-NS) based electrocatalyst executing HER with high activity and remarkable stability. CuTe-NS based electrocatalysts grown over conductive NiF via drop-casting approach and employed for HER, while achieving a current decade and a current density of 100 mA/cm(2) just at 0.25 V vs. RHE and 0.27 V vs. RHE, which is comparable to the benchmark Pt/C based HER catalyst. The catalyst demonstrates wellbalanced kinetic behavior, low Tafel slope of 36 mV/dec, low charge transfer resistance of 1.71 Omega, high roughness factor, and remarkable stability for more than 60 h of electrolysis. Furthermore, post-catalysis characterizations demonstrate no change in catalyst integrity, morphological, and structural attributes even after many hours of electrolysis which show sustainable behavior of catalyst for long term HER activity. Because of electrochemical and structural stabilities after long term electrolysis experiments, accessible method of preparations, and cost-effectiveness, the catalysis is highly encouraging for real-life applications. (c) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study successfully demonstrated a copper tellurides nano-structures based electrocatalyst with high activity and remarkable stability for efficient hydrogen generation. The catalyst showed comparable performance to platinum-based electrocatalysts in water splitting, along with good kinetic behavior and stability.