Bridging sustainability and catalytic efficiency: Cu7Co alloy-decorated biomass-derived carbon as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen generation

Abstract

Exploring efficient non-noble metal catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) will contribute to the development of clean and green energy technologies. Herein, we adopted a “waste utilization” strategy by using readily available and inexpensive coconut shell waste as a carbon source to synthesize carbon materials anchored with a Cu₇Co alloy (Cu₇Co/C) as a potential electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Utilizing a combination of hydrothermal and pyrolysis methods, the synthesized Cu₇Co/C catalyst showcases superior HER electrocatalytic performance in alkaline solutions, with an overpotential of 134 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 94 mV dec⁻¹. The alloying of Cu and Co within Cu₇Co/C markedly improves charge transfer capabilities, enhancing HER electrocatalysis. This research underscores the exceptional catalytic performance and stability of Cu₇Co/C nanocomposites in alkaline media for the HER, attributed to a synergistic effect between the carbon derived from coconut shells and the bimetallic Cu₇Co alloy.