Hydrothermally Derived Hierarchical CuO Nanoflowers as an Efficient Photocatalyst and Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

AbstractFabrication of an efficient, economic and earth‐abundant nanocatalyst for H2 production is the centre of attraction in renewable energy technology, but it is still a massive task. In present work, we report a facile modified hydrothermal route to synthesize hierarchical CuO nanoflowers as a noble metal free, proficient photo and electrocatalyst for hydrogen generation. Electrochemical studies were performed over as‐synthesized CuO nanoflowers in both acidic and alkaline medium to record both HER and OER responses. An enhanced HER activity with an overpotential of 1.02 V at −10 mA/cm2 cathodic current density and OER activity with an onset potential at around 1.01 V, respectively, superior to the art of HER and OER bi‐catalyst. Photocatalytic H2 evolution performance exhibits the significant production of 16 mmol/g−1cat in time interval of 8 hours in the presence of Na2S/Na2SO3 sacrificial agent.