Cu2CoSnS4 electrocatalyst embedded paper working electrodes for efficient, stable, pH universal, and large-current-density hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

In this study, practical application for the industrial-scale hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process is established using sustainable Cu2CoSnS4 embedded in paper-working electrodes. The Cu2CoSnS4 is produced using a solvent-free solid-phase approach. The effect of a wide pH range of electrolytes on working electrodes for hydrogen evolution reactions is also investigated. The Cu 2CoSnS4 embedded paper-working electrodes exhibit goodelectrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction with low overpotential values of 233, 310, and 261 mV vs RHE at 10 mA/cm 2 in 0.5 M H2SO4,1 M KOH, and 1 M PBS, respectively. These designed electrodes exhibit high double-layer capacitance and electrochemical surface area for a wide pH range. In acidic, alkaline and neutral environments, the catalyst-embedded paper electrodes explicit high turnover frequencies of 2.15 s−1, 2.75 s−1, and 2.11 s−1, respectively. The temperature-dependent hydrogen evolution reaction is studied to calculate the activation energy of the cathodic electrode. Utilising chrono-amperometry for about 118 h in an acidic media, which shows that electrodes have a high degree of stability. In comparison to other previously reported work on catalyst-embedded electrodes, the Cu2CoSnS4 embedded paper-working electrodes offer excellentpotential for HER activity across a wide pH range and are suitable for industrial application.