Self-standing Co decorated Cu2O/CuS-based porous electrocatalyst for effective hydrogen evolution reaction in basic media

The self-standing Co decorated Cu2O/CuS-based porous electrocatalyst was prepared with the help of simple electrodeposition and hydrothermal method. The structural charac-terizations of fabricated samples were performed with X-Ray diffraction spectroscopy and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy, while the morphology of catalysts was studied with the help of Field-Emission Spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Spectroscopy. The elec-trochemical performance of the hydrogen evolution reaction was checked in a basic electrolyte. The gradual increment in the electrochemical performance of Cu2O was observed when it underwent sulfurization without and with Co precursor respectively. The best electrochemical performance for hydrogen evolution reaction with an overpotential of 150.29 mV to achieve a geometric current density of 10 mA/cm2 was observed for the Cu2O sample sulfurized with Co precursor. The results of different characterizations suggested that the improved electrochemical performance could be attributed to the increased intrinsic activity and surface porosity of the electrocatalyst after sulfurization.& COPY; 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.