Beaded stream-like CoSe2 nanoneedle array for efficient hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis

Chuan-Pei Lee; Wei-Fu Chen; Tadesse Billo; Yan-Gu Lin; Fang-Yu Fu; Satyanarayana Samireddi; Chih-Hao Lee; Jih-Shang Hwang; Kuei-Hsien Chen; Li-Chyong Chen

doi:10.1039/C6TA00464D

Beaded stream-like CoSe₂ nanoneedle array for efficient hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis†

Chuan-Pei Lee,^a Wei-Fu Chen,

*^a Tadesse Billo,^bcd Yan-Gu Lin,^e Fang-Yu Fu,^af Satyanarayana Samireddi,^bgh Chih-Hao Lee,^d Jih-Shang Hwang,^f Kuei-Hsien Chen*^ab and Li-Chyong Chen*^a

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
E-mail: wfchen@ntu.edu.tw, chenlc@ntu.edu.tw

^b Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
E-mail: chenkh@pub.iams.sinica.edu.tw

^c Nano Science and Technology Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan

^d Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30012, Taiwan

^e National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu, Taiwan

^f Institute of Optoeletronic Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan

^g Molecular Science and Technology Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan

^h Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30012, Taiwan

Abstract

The development of earth-abundant and efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is one of the keys to success for future green energy systems using hydrogen fuel. Nanostructuring of electrocatalysts is a promising way to enhance their electrocatalytic performance in the HER. In this study, pure pyrite-type beaded stream-like cobalt diselenide (CoSe₂) nanoneedles are directly formed on flexible titanium foils through treating a cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) nanoneedle array template with selenium vapor. The beaded stream-like CoSe₂ nanoneedle electrode can drive the HER at a current density of 20 mA cm⁻² with a small overpotential of 125 mV. Moreover, the beaded stream-like CoSe₂ nanoneedle electrode remains stable in an acidic electrolyte for 3000 cycles and continuously splits water over a period of 18 hours. The enhanced electrochemical activity is facilitated by the unique three-dimensional hierarchical structure, the highly accessible surface active sites, the improved charge transfer kinetics and the highly attractive force between water and the surface of the nanoneedles that exceeds the surface tension of water.

Journal of Materials Chemistry A

Beaded stream-like CoSe₂ nanoneedle array for efficient hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis†

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Beaded stream-like CoSe₂ nanoneedle array for efficient hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis

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Journal of Materials Chemistry A