Intermetallic Cu5Zr Clusters Anchored on Hierarchical Nanoporous Copper as Efficient Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

• Main Authors: Hang Shi, Yi-Tong Zhou, Rui-Qi Yao, Wu-Bin Wan, Qing-Hua Zhang, Lin Gu, Zi Wen, Xing-You Lang, Qing Jiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science 2020-01-01
• Series: Research
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.34133/2020/2987234

Designing highly active and robust platinum-free electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction is vital for large-scale and efficient production of hydrogen through electrochemical water splitting. Here, we report nonprecious intermetallic Cu5Zr clusters that are in situ anchored on hierarchical nanoporous copper (NP Cu/Cu5Zr) for efficient hydrogen evolution in alkaline medium. By virtue of hydroxygenated zirconium atoms activating their nearby Cu-Cu bridge sites with appropriate hydrogen-binding energy, the Cu5Zr clusters have a high electrocatalytic activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction. Associated with unique architecture featured with steady and bicontinuous nanoporous copper skeleton that facilitates electron transfer and electrolyte accessibility, the self-supported monolithic NP Cu/Cu5Zr electrodes boost violent hydrogen gas release, realizing ultrahigh current density of 500 mA cm-2 at a low potential of -280 mV versus reversible hydrogen electrode, with exceptional stability in 1 M KOH solution. The electrochemical properties outperform those of state-of-the-art nonprecious metal electrocatalysts and make them promising candidates as electrodes in water splitting devices.