Flexible gold nanoparticles/rGO and thin film/rGO papers: novel electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction

BACKGROUND Fabrication of cost‐effective and durable materials for efficient hydrogen production in splitting water (hydrogen evolution reaction) is of importance for the successful utilization of hydrogen‐based green energy technologies. Therefore, electrocatalytic materials have been designed with...

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Published in:Journal of chemical technology and biotechnology (1986) 2019-12, Vol.94 (12), p.3895-3904
Main Authors: Topçu, Ezgi, Dağcı Kıranşan, Kader
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Au nanoparticles
Au thin film
Clean energy
Durability
Electrocatalysts
Electron density
Electrons
Energy technology
Fabrication
Gold
Graphene
graphene‐based paper
Hydrogen
hydrogen evolution reaction
Hydrogen evolution reactions
Hydrogen production
Hydrogen-based energy
Nanoparticles
Organic chemistry
Photoelectron spectroscopy
Photoelectrons
Raman spectroscopy
Scanning electron microscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectrum analysis
Splitting
Tafel slopes
Thin films
X ray photoelectron spectroscopy
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Summary:BACKGROUND Fabrication of cost‐effective and durable materials for efficient hydrogen production in splitting water (hydrogen evolution reaction) is of importance for the successful utilization of hydrogen‐based green energy technologies. Therefore, electrocatalytic materials have been designed with a simple approach using electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and thin film (AuTF) directly on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) paper. As‐prepared paper electrocatalysts (AuNPs/rGO and AuTF/rGO) were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS Free‐standing and flexible AuNPs/rGO and AuTF/rGO electrocatalysts have exhibited excellent performances on HER with low Tafel slopes (88 and 112 mV dec−1), low onset potentials (−47 and −55 mV), small overpotentials of only −176 and −204 mV to drive 10 mA cm−2, respectively, and high durability even with the rolled design. The outstanding performance of these two electrocatalysts can be attributed to the uniform distribution of 20‐nm‐sized AuNPs and the deposition of well‐ordered AuTF on rGO paper, providing an increment in the surface area and an enhancement of the electron density. CONCLUSION The controllable design of AuNPs/rGO and AuTF/rGO electrocatalysts, together with their high flexibility, good stability and promising results, suggest potential use in future applications of H2 production in splitting water. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
ISSN:0268-2575
1097-4660
DOI:10.1002/jctb.6187