Highly Efficient and Low-Cost CuFeCN as an OER and HER Electrocatalyst for Sustainable Hydrogen Production

Developing low-cost, easily synthesizable, and incredibly efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has become essential for switching from nonrenewable energy to hydrogen fuel generation. Energy adaptation and storage required the creation of non-noble-metal electrocatalysts with admirable motion along with stability for water electrolysis. Cu@FeCN materials have been characterized using a variety of physical and electrochemical approaches, and the relationship between the materials and activity has been investigated. The newly developed Cu@FeCN electrode shows sustained stability and strong catalytic activity with enhanced electrochemical active surface area in line with H2O splitting maintaining an alkaline condition requiring a very short overpotential of only 320 mV at a current density of 20 mA/cm2 with small Tafel slopes. Cu@FeCN has a computed TOF (turnover frequency) of 0.321 s–1, which is twice as high as the IrO2 catalyst’s calculated TOF of 0.173 s–1 at 1.60 V. This demonstrates that the Cu@FeCN catalyst is innately active for exceptional HER and OER performances as well as satisfying kinetics to overcome the lethargic water oxidation rate. At the anode (O2) and cathode (H2), respectively, at 1.54 V, solar-derived water electrolysis displays nonstop bubble formation.