Engineering active sites in ternary CeO2-CuO-Mn3O4 heterointerface embedded in reduced graphene oxide for boosting water splitting activity
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The rational design of highly efficient and stable bifunctional catalysts for overall water splitting is vitally important. In this study, to increase the active catalytic sites of CeO 2 for electrochemical water splitting, a ternary CeO 2 -CuO-Mn 3 O 4 heterostructure, synthesized by coprecipitation method, is loaded on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets in different amounts to produce CeO 2 -CuO-Mn 3 O 4 @rGO nanocomposites. It is found that CeO 2 -CuO-Mn 3 O 4 @rGO nanocomposites show higher electrocatalytic activity than unsupported samples, and the best activity is observed when the wieght ratio of CeO 2 -CuO-Mn 3 O 4 is three times that of rGO. The CeO 2 -CuO-Mn 3 O 4 @rGO(3:1) requires low overpotentials of 130 and 270 mV for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) at a current density of 10 mA cm −2 . Furthermore, this material demonstrates a large electrochemically active surface area, low charge transfer resistance, suitable kintics, and high long-term stability for both OER and HER. Additionally, when CeO 2 -CuO-Mn 3 O 4 @rGO(3:1) is used as self-supported electrodes for the overall water splitting reaction, a low cell voltage of 1.68 V is obtained. This superior performance is due to: (i) active multi-metal sites that produce strong synergistic effects; (ii) the high conductivity of rGO, which faciliate favorable electron transfer; and (iii) the homogenous anchoring of CeO 2 -CuO-Mn 3 O 4 on rGO, which increases the number of active sites available on the catalyst surface.
Source: Scientific Reports
Authors: Sahar Jafari, Zohreh Shaghaghi
Institution: Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
OpenAlex ID: W4407096265