Hydrogen Bubble-Assisted One-Step Electrodeposition of Cu, Ni, and P toward Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation

Abstract

Development of low-cost and highly abundant transition metal-based electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity with low overpotential and high stability is desired for the utilization of electrolytic water-splitting cells to generate hydrogen (H2) fuel. The electrocatalytic activity could be further improved with the fabricated catalyst possessing microporous structures. In this study, binder-free hydrogen bubble-assisted electrodeposition of Cu, Ni, and phosphorous over a Cu sheet (CuNiP@Cu sheet) electrode was constructed. Three electrodeposition solutions consisting of 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3 mole ratios of Cu to Ni and 0.50 M sodium hypophosphite were utilized to produce electrodes under a range of electrodeposition potentials from −2.0 to −9.0 V vs Hg/Hg2SO4 so as to control the rate of hydrogen bubble template generation. The optimum performance for the OER in 1.0 M KOH solution was achieved using the electrode [i.e., CuNiP@Cu (1:1)] generated from an electrodeposition solution consisting of 1:1 mole ratio of Cu to Ni at −4.0 V vs Hg/Hg2SO4 for 5–20 min, which demonstrated a low overpotential value of 318 mV to achieve 10 mA/cm2 current density with a Tafel slope of 100 mV/dec. The potentiodynamic studies of the electrode showed minimal change in the overpotential value for the OER even after 786 cycles at a scan rate of 200 mV/s. The stability was also confirmed with the potentiostatic studies in which the electrode was found to be stable for 20 h of the experimental time. The outcomes suggest that low-cost, readily synthesized, and binder-free hydrogen bubble-assisted one-step electrodeposited microporous electrocatalysts hold excellent features toward the OER.

Electrocatalytic Performance of Micro–Nano-Nickel Electrodes via Magnetic Field-Assisted Jet Electrodeposition Method

“…It is very important to prepare OER catalytic electrodes with high efficiency and low cost for hydrogen production from water electrolysis. 4,5 Siwal et al 6 introduced the OER mechanism of electrolyzed water at the anode to produce oxygen and discussed the research progress of nonprecious metal active materials. Li et al 7 suggested that the transition metal electrode showed significant activity in catalytic performance and could be used as a substitute for noble metal catalytic electrodes.…”

“…Therefore, the development and utilization of low-cost, highly active, and stable electrocatalysts have become a hot research field. It is very important to prepare OER catalytic electrodes with high efficiency and low cost for hydrogen production from water electrolysis. , …”

Boosting oxygen evolution reaction rates with mesoporous Fe-doped MoCo-phosphide nanosheets

“…Meanwhile, the formation of phosphate can act as a ligand to facilitate the conversion from lowvalent to high-valent Co in the redox reaction and promote the four-electron proton coupling transfer steps during the OER, thereby enhancing the activity of the OER. 56 The electrocatalytic performances of the as-prepared samples were investigated in a 1 M KOH solution with typical three-electrode systems. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) is used to investigate the electrocatalytic activity of materials for OER.…”

In Situ Assembly of a Superaerophobic CoMn/CuNiP Heterostructure as a Trifunctional Electrocatalyst for Ampere-Level Current Density Urea-Assisted Hydrogen Production

“…13 However, this electrocatalyst showed low activity toward the HER and OER and required high overpotential to reach even low current densities (at least ∼−130 mV for HER and ∼300 mV for OER at 10 mA cm −2 ) compared to noble-based catalysts. 10,14,15 Consequently, it needs further improvement. It should be noted that CuNiP UOR activity has not been reported yet.…”

“…In addition, it has been determined that adding Cu can boost Ni 3+ ions, which is considered an active catalytic site for OER and UOR reactions, and increase the corrosion resistance of the electrode . However, this electrocatalyst showed low activity toward the HER and OER and required high overpotential to reach even low current densities (at least ∼−130 mV for HER and ∼300 mV for OER at 10 mA cm –2 ) compared to noble-based catalysts. ,, Consequently, it needs further improvement. It should be noted that CuNiP UOR activity has not been reported yet.…”