Synthesis of Cu2−xS electrocatalysts with different stoichiometric numbers by electrodeposition and heat posttreatment

Abstract

AbstractThe work presented an electrochemical anode method with different electrolyte concentrations and heat posttreatment to control the stoichiometry and structure of Cu2−xS electrocatalysts. X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were employed to characterize the composition and morphology, whereas the electrocatalytic activity was evaluated by linear scanning voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that the electrochemical method successfully synthesized thin flake‐shaped Cu7S4, which exhibited optimal performance at the electrolyte concentration of 0.45 mol L1 with maximum turnover frequency of 0.786 s−1, maximum mass activity of 0.539 A g−1, minimum charge transfer resistance of 0.156 Ω cm−2, and minimum overpotential of 154 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. In the Cu7S4 structure, Cu2+ and S2− were coordinated in a CuS4 tetrahedral structure, whereas Cu+ and S2− were coordinated in a CuS3 triangular structure. Heat posttreatment could change the stoichiometry from 1.75 to 1.8 and improve the electrochemical performance. In the Cu9S5 structure, the CuS3 triangular structure had disappeared. Under the same conditions, the overvoltage was only 128 mV.