Fabrication of triangular Cu₃P nanorods on Cu nanosheets as electrocatalyst for boosted electrocatalytic water splitting

Abstract

Non-precious electro catalysts with high-efficiency, cheapness and stablility are of great significance to replace noble metal electro catalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this work, triangular Cu@CuO nanorods on Cu nanosheets were fabricated by a novel in-situ oxidation approach using Cu nanosheets as self-template and conductive nano-substrate in an aqueous solution of NaOH/H₂O₂, and then by low-temperature phosphorization treatments. The experimental results show that the phosphating temperature has a significant effect on the morphology, composition and number of active sites of Cu@Cu₃P nanorods. The Cu@Cu₃P-280 electrode exhibits a good HER catalytic activity of achieving a current density of 10 mA/cm² at 252 mV in acid electrolyte. After catalysis for 14 h, the current density can still reach 72% of the initial value. Moreover, the Cu@Cu₃P-280 electrode also shows an excellent OER catalytic activity in basic electrolyte, reaching a current density of 10 mA/cm² at the overpotential value of 200 mV. After catalysis for 12 h, the current density remained more than 93% of the initial value. This work provides a theoretical basis for the directional design and preparation of sustainable, low-cost, bifunctional electrocatalytic materials.

Keywords

Cu@Cu₃P / electrocatalysis / oxygen evolution reaction / hydrogen evolution reaction

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