A Cu-Based Nanoparticulate Film as Super-Active and Robust Catalyst Surpasses Pt for Electrochemical H2 Production from Neutral and Weak Acidic Aqueous Solutions

Electrocatalysts that are stable and highly active at low overpotential (eta) under mild conditions as well as cost-effective and scalable are eagerly desired for potential use in photo-and electro-driven hydrogen evolution devices. Here the fabrication and characterization of a super-active and robust Cu-CuxO-Pt nanoparticulate electrocatalyst is reported, which displays a small Tafel slope (44 mV dec(-1)) and a large exchange current density (1.601 mA cm(-2)) in neutral buffer solution. The catalytic current density of this catalyst film reaches 500 mA cm(-2) at eta = -390 +/- 12 mV and 20 mA cm(-2) at eta = -45 +/- 3 mV, which are significantly higher than the values displayed by Pt foil and Pt/C electrodes in neutral buffer solution and even comparable with the activity of Pt electrode in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution.