Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on CuO Immobilized Stainless‐Steel Electrode Prepared by the SILAR Method

Abstract

AbstractThe development of cost‐effective and efficient catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has been a subject of intense research for sustainable and clean energy in recent decades. For this purpose, CuO‐modified stainless steel (CuO‐SS) electrode was fabricated to attain HER in acidic media. Here in, CuO film was fabricated on a stainless steel (SS) surface following successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. A 60‐cycle CuO modification resulted in enhanced HER activity compared to the bare SS or CuO electrode with an average 99 % Faradic efficiency. Based on the Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), at an HER potential, the bare SS electrode exhibited charge transfer resistance of 24.7 Ω whereas CuO‐SS electrode exhibited 6.47 Ω only. The overpotential was calculated to be 154 mV at the CuO‐SS electrode regarding HER. The results have significant implications for the development of cost‐effective and efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen production.