Issue 25, 2021

3D ordered macroporous copper nitride–titanium oxynitride as highly efficient electrocatalysts for universal-pH hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

The demand for hydrogen for future clean energy has increased research interest in developing non-noble high-efficiency electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In this study, we prepared a copper nitride-loaded 3D ordered macroporous titanium oxynitride (Cu3N@3DOM-TiOxNy) via PS-metal sol–gel and ammonia annealing method. The present Cu3N@3DOM-TiOxNy as an electrocatalyst demonstrated high efficiency towards the HER, with low overpotentials ranging from 71 to 79 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in all-pH electrolyte. Additionally, the low Tafel slopes of the Cu3N@3DOM-TiOxNy revealed the fast electron transfer in the electrocatalytic process. In-depth investigation illustrated that the Cu3N with an extremely low activation barrier energy associated with rapid H2 release process works as the main active site and plays a pivotal role in efficiently electrocatalysing the HER. This work not only proposes a highly efficient, robust and low-cost copper-based all-pH HER electrocatalyst, but also demonstrates the significance of nano-engineering in developing next-generation electrocatalysts.

Graphical abstract: 3D ordered macroporous copper nitride–titanium oxynitride as highly efficient electrocatalysts for universal-pH hydrogen evolution reaction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Mar 2021
Accepted
03 Jun 2021
First published
05 Jun 2021

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021,9, 14392-14399

3D ordered macroporous copper nitride–titanium oxynitride as highly efficient electrocatalysts for universal-pH hydrogen evolution reaction

Y. Wu, F. Ning, Z. Wang, A. Saad, X. Li and D. Xia, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021, 9, 14392 DOI: 10.1039/D1TA02457D

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