AgCuO2 as a novel bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting in alkaline media

Abstract

Nanostructured transition metal oxides are among the most prevalent catalysts for the water-splitting process. Herein, AgCuO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) are introduced as a novel bifunctional electrocatalyst for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media. The catalyst, AgCuO₂ NPs, exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity together with a low overpotential for the overall water-splitting process. The AgCuO₂ exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity with a low onset overpotential of 29 mV for the HER and the onset overpotential of 360 mV for the OER, with superior long-term stability in 1.0 M KOH. The catalyst delivered 10 and 100 mA cm⁻² at extremely low overpotentials of 42 and 47 mV for the HER and 10 mA cm⁻² at an overpotential of 388 mV for the OER. This work suggests an important reference toward the use of novel bimetallic oxides as highly active and stable bifunctional electrocatalysts for high-performance water splitting.