Bifunctional CuMoS4 for Green Energy Production

Abstract

The growing need for energy and sustainability issues demand green energy production. Research in this field needs better materials that can efficiently produce energy. Modified electrode materials with better electrochemical properties that can work as bifunctional materials to produce energy are much needed. In this work, copper-molybdenum sulfide synthesized using a self-assembled synthetic route was dip-coated onto nickel foam for energy generation (hydrogen and oxygen via water splitting). For water splitting applications, CuMoS4 displayed an overpotential of 207 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA/cm2 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The Tafel slope associated with the HER activity of this material was 118 mV/dec. The overpotential needed to reach a current density of 10 mA/cm2 for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was 270 mV. The OER activity of copper-molybdenum sulfide showed a Tafel slope of 82 mV/dec. Moreover, the material showed great stability over a long period water splitting reaction. CuMoS4 produced results comparable to many other materials in literature and has promising results for applications for water splitting.