A Cu2Se–Cu2O film electrodeposited on titanium foil as a highly active and stable electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Many nonprecious metal-selenide-based materials have been reported as electrocatalysts with high activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, a hybrid catalyst film composed of Cu₂Se and Cu₂O nanoparticles directly grown on Ti foil (Cu₂Se–Cu₂O/TF) was prepared through a simple and fast cathodic electrodeposition method. Surprisingly, this electrode required a relatively low overpotential of 465 mV to achieve a catalytic current density of 10 mA cm⁻² for the OER in 0.2 M carbonate buffer (pH = 11.0). Furthermore, a long-term constant current electrolysis test confirmed the high durability of the Cu₂Se–Cu₂O/TF anode at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² over 20 h. The XRD, TEM and XPS analysis of the sample after the OER indicated that a CuO protective layer formed on the surface of the Cu₂Se–Cu₂O catalyst, which effectively suppressed further oxidation of the Cu₂Se–Cu₂O catalyst during the OER and resulted in sustained catalytic oxidation of water.