An efficient ultra-thin chain-structured copper cobalt oxide/sulfide composite catalyst for electrochemical hydrogen generation

Abstract

The electroreduction of water for sustainable hydrogen production is an important process for clean energy technologies, such as water splitting and fuel cells. However, development of low-cost and efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is still a great challenge. Here we reported a kind of ultrathin chain-structured CuCo₂O₄ (CCO) and sulfured CuCo₂O₄ (S-CCO) for HER with excellent activity and good durability in alkaline solution. At a current density of 10 mA cm⁻², S-CCO nanocomposite catalyst only need an overpotential of 154 mV (vs. RHE), whereas chain-structured CCO need an overpotential of 490 mV. It demonstrates that sulfured treatment is an effective approach to enhance the catalytic activity of oxide for HER.