Abstract
The stable deposition of reactive nanostructures on metal electrodes is a key process for modern technologies including energy conversion/ storage, electrocatalysis or sensing. Here a facile, scalable route is reported, which allows the bulk nanostructuring of copper foam electrodes with metal, metal oxide or metal hydroxide nanostructures. A concentration‐gradient driven synthetic approach enables the fabrication of Janus‐type electrodes where one face features Cu(OH)2 nanowires, while the other face features CuO nanoflowers. Thermal or chemical conversion of the nanostructured surfaces into copper oxide or copper metal is possible whilst retaining the respective nanostructure morphologies. As proof of concept, the functionalized electrodes are promising in electrocatalytic water oxidation and water reduction reactions.
Highlights
The stable deposition of reactive nanostructures on metal electrodes is a key process for modern technologies including energy conversion/ storage, electrocatalysis or sensing
The in situ formation and binder-free, stable deposition of metal oxide or metal hydroxide nanostructures has attracted significant attention, as this leads to technologically viable, scalable fabrication routes for industrially important components with relevance for sustainable energy technologies such as batteries,[4] water electrolysis,[5] or fuel cells.[6]
We demonstrate that the resulting composite electrodes can be used for energy-relevant electrocatalyses, such as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) or hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)
Summary
The stable deposition of reactive nanostructures on metal electrodes is a key process for modern technologies including energy conversion/ storage, electrocatalysis or sensing. Use as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER)[7] or hydrogen evolution reaction (HER),[8] as well as supercapacitors and battery electrodes.[9,10] a number of synthetic approaches to copper oxide/ hydroxide functionalized electrodes have been developed, including electrochemical anodization,[11,12] chemical deposition,[13,14] electrodeposition,[15,16] hydrothermal deposition[8,17] and surface oxidation.[18,19] Typically, the methods reported lead to the formation of one dominant Cu oxide/ hydroxide phase, that is, CuO, Cu2O or Cu(OH)2 with characteristic nanostructure morphologies: Cu(OH)2 typically forms nanowires or nanorods with diameters in the tens of nanometers and lengths of up to several micrometers.
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