Coupling interface structure in NixS/Cu5FeS4 hybrid with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

Fei Yuan; Yang Liu; Ping Ma; Shuo Wang; Guangxue Yang; Jiaheng Qin; Yutong Luo; Shicheng Luo; Jiantai Ma

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2020.05.094

Coupling interface structure in Ni_xS/Cu₅FeS₄ hybrid with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2020 Oct 15:578:668-676. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.05.094. Epub 2020 May 26.

Authors

Fei Yuan¹, Yang Liu², Ping Ma¹, Shuo Wang¹, Guangxue Yang¹, Jiaheng Qin¹, Yutong Luo¹, Shicheng Luo¹, Jiantai Ma³

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry (SKLAOC), The Key Laboratory of Catalytic Engineering of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
² College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry (SKLAOC), The Key Laboratory of Catalytic Engineering of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China. Electronic address: majiantai@lzu.edu.cn.

PMID: 32559482
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.05.094

Abstract

Bornite (Cu₅FeS₄) exhibits great potential for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and few studies have been conducted on its electrocatalytic activity. Herein, we successfully fabricate Ni_xS/Cu₅FeS₄ hybrid catalyst with interface structure between Ni_xS nanoparticles (NPs) and Cu₅FeS₄ NPs. The Ni_xS/Cu₅FeS₄ hybrid catalyst exhibits favorable HER performances in 1.0 M KOH electrolyte and demonstrates smaller overpotential and lower Tafel slope than bare Ni_xS NPs and Cu₅FeS₄ NPs. The remarkable HER performances are attributed to the strongly coupling interface structure between Ni_xS NPs and Cu₅FeS₄ NPs, which leads to synergistic effect optimizing the HER activity and enhancing the charge transfer during catalytic process. This work provides a promising strategy for the construction of Cu₅FeS₄-based hybrid catalyst and its application in energy systems.

Keywords: Alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction; Cu(5)FeS(4); Hybrid; Interface.