Improved performance of CNT-Pd modified Cu2O supported on Nickel foam for hydrogen evolution reaction in basic media

• Published in: Journal of molecular liquids 2021-12, Vol.343, p.117612, Article 117612
• Main Authors: Burungale, Vishal, Bae, Hyojung, Mane, Pratik, Rho, Hokyun, Ryu, Sang-Wan, Kang, Soon Hyung, Ha, Jun-Seok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaline; CNTs; Cu2O; Electrocatalyst; HER
• ISSN: 0167-7322; 1873-3166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.117612

[Display omitted] •Instead of an acidic medium, HER activity was checked in the alkaline medium.•The modification of the CNT-Pd combination caused a substantial improvement in the Cu2O alkaline HER catalytic activity.•The porous structure formed by CNTs improved the dispersivity of Pd particles on the electrode surface.•The overall charge transfer process was also improved due to the excellent conductivity of CNTs.•Overall good stability with a negligible current loss after 12 h of chronoamperometric measurement was observed. Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) in alkaline media has been a point of great interest in the field of water splitting research due to its importance in ensuring the commercial viability of hydrogen-based technology, although it suffers from the sluggish reaction kinetics which limits the activity of catalysts. However, in recent times different approaches such as hybrid electrocatalysts made up of a variety of carbon nanostructures with different catalysts are being used to deal with this problem. In the present study, Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) along with Pd were sprayed over the surface of electrodeposited Cu2O electrode, to improve its HER performance in alkaline media. The structural characterizations of the deposited material were performed using X-Ray diffraction and X-Ray Photoelectron spectroscopy while scanning electron microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy were used to examine the surface morphology and elemental mapping. The electrocatalytic performance of Nickel foam supported Cu2O was significantly improved after its surface modification with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Pd. The improved performance was attributed firstly to the enhanced catalytic activity due to the presence of Pd and secondly to the improved effective surface area and charge transportation at the electrode–electrolyte interface due to the presence of CNTs. The improvement in effective surface area is mainly due to the porous structure formed by the network of CNTs, which also improved the dispersivity of Pd nanoparticles over the electrode surface.