Intermolecular Electron Transfer in Electrochemically Exfoliated BCN-Cu Nanosheet Electrocatalysts for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

The search for materials with superior electrocatalytic performance has attracted attention during the past few years aiming to identify a convenient material that works at a low overpotential with long-term stability. Herein, we introduce an innovative technique to fabricate two-dimensional BCN heterostructure nanosheets with various Cu:BCN weight ratios. The fabricated composites showed unique electrocatalytic properties for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The morphology and structure of the electrocatalysts were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy, Raman, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. Remarkably, this study reveals the effect of electrochemical chronopotentiometry on facilitating the electrochemical exfoliation and hence enhancing the catalytic activity of the fabricated nanosheets. This effect was further confirmed via density functional theory (DFT) calculations, unveiling the effect of the formed oxide layer on the charge transfer process. The overpotential of the 0.125 Cu-BCN composite at a current density of -10 mA/cm 2 vs RHE is 50% lower than that of pristine BCN. These findings were also affirmed by the DFT calculations, which showed that incorporating copper on BCN has significantly reduced the G H* value of the HER and subsequently accelerates the kinetics of the reaction and the overall catalytic activity of the material.

Selective electrochemical reduction of CO2 on compositionally variant bimetallic Cu–Zn electrocatalysts derived from scrap brass alloys

“…The excessive mining of minerals, as well, due to general poor regulation is entangled in a web of environmental and societal harm 3 , 4 . Hence, considerable research work is directed towards steering away from the mining of metals and combustion of fossil fuels into greener alternatives 5 , 6 . Developing a solution that will make use of renewable energy sources and building a basis for affordable recycling schemes are the key to a sustainable future 7 , 8 .…”

“…Therefore, nanoparticles are not always the most practical from an industrial standpoint 34 , 35 . Consequently, nanofoams and structures were produced directly from metal foils 5 , 26 , 27 . Stojkovikj et al .…”

Highly Durable Compositionally Variant Bifunctional Tetrametallic Ni–Co–Mn–Fe Phosphide Electrocatalysts Synthesized by a Facile Electrodeposition Method for High-Performance Overall Water Splitting

“…Thus, the growth of the nanosheets can only take place at the interstitial distance between the formed bubbles and enforcing the deposited nanosheets growth into nanospheres. Furthermore, the newly deposited nanosheets present new active sites for bubble formation, resulting in the development of pores within the formed nanospheres. − This also explains the reduction in the recorded potential over the deposition time for the P-based composites, as demonstrated in Figure S1b. This comes in agreement with the previously reported morphology obtained for MnO 2 nanosheets, where the formed MnO 2 nanosheets were compacted due to the rapid formation of the nanosheet structures .…”

“…The electrocatalytic activity of the fabricated composites toward OER and HER in alkaline electrolyte (1 M KOH) was studied. In addition, density functional theory (DFT), a powerful tool that helps in understanding the properties of various materials and reaction mechanisms, − was employed to elucidate the observed electrocatalytic activity of the materials for water splitting. ,, Moreover, the effect of incorporating P into the MnFeCoNi catalyst was fully investigated using both experimental measurements and DFT calculations.…”

C76 Nanospheres/Ni Foam as High-Performance Heterostructured Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction: Unveiling the Interfacial Interaction

“…Herein, we first explored the electronic structure of different fullerene structures using density functional theory (DFT) calculations to identify the most suitable candidate as a HER catalyst. Note that DFT is a strong tool used in explaining electronic properties and reaction mechanism. − Then, different masses of the potentially identified fullerene (C 76 nanospheres) were loaded on Ni-foam substrate and used as catalytic materials for the HER in acidic medium. The synergy between C 76 nanospheres and the Ni foam and its correlation to the electronic structure and the catalytic activity were demonstrated and explained.…”