An efficient metal oxyhydroxide catalyst for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

An enormous amount of research is being carried out in electrocatalysis, notably for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), because of the growing demand for sustainable and clean energy sources. Electrochemical water splitting, which results in hydrogen gas, is a practical path to a carbon–neutral energy system. It is essential to create efficient, cost-effective electrocatalysts to achieve this. In recent years, FeOOH-based catalysts have emerged as intriguing HER candidates due to their excellent activity, stability, and accessibility. This work investigates FeOOH quantum dots as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution and sheds an insight on their unique properties, manufacturing processes, and catalytic activity. The quantum dots have demonstrated good electrochemical activity due to their increased surface area and noticeably higher active sites. With the use of UV–vis spectroscopy, XRD, TEM, and electrochemical studies of the catalyst activity, the catalyst has been well characterised. The catalyst demonstrated amazing activity, a decreased Tafel slope, and a lower overpotential, making it a potential option for use in the future.