Hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO@MoTe2 nanocomposite as excellent electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)

Abstract

The comprehension of novel fundamental inquiries about the design of electrocatalysts is of paramount importance in enhancing the availability of renewable energy resources and advancing the progress of exceptionally durable and effective nonprecious electrocatalysts for the process of water splitting. Enhancing the capacity of renewable energy storage systems through the usage of nonprecious nanocomposites for efficient H2O splitting holds the potential to foster a more sustainable and environmentally conscious society, hence mitigating the impact of global warming. The nanocomposite exhibits proficient catalytic kinetics for the HER process owing to the enhanced accessibility of MoTe2′s most active zones. The physical property of the nanocomposite was established through in-process characterization using different analytical techniques. In a basic environment, the ZnO@MoTe2 combination exhibited a significant value for the generation of hydrogen using electrocatalysts based on ZnO@MoTe2, which was a 34 mV dec-1 Tafel slope. The nanocomposite exhibited a higher turn-over frequency rate (TOF) of 2.4 s−1 than pure materials. The ZnO@MoTe2 nanocomposite displays a higher surface area of 1125 cm2 and a low Rct value of 93 Ω. The electrocatalyst exhibits exceptional stability and durability. During 50 h in an alkaline environment, the application of chronopotentiometry reveals no substantial decrease in potential. The utilization of nanocomposite based electrocatalysts has been shown to provide efficient quick charge kinetics, a noteworthy observation. The results of this study offer a novel, reliable and effective electrocatalyst that has potential applications in the advancement of electrocatalytic devices for hydrogen gas (H2) production. These devices can be developed employing cost-effective technologies and naturally occurring materials widely available worldwide.