Enhancement of the electrocatalytic activity of NiMnSe by CuP as heterostructure electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media

In this study, for the first time, NiMnSe/CuP nanocomposite was successfully synthesized through a two-step electrochemical method and used as a novel electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In the initial stage, a layer of CuP was deposited onto a nickel foam (NF) substrate. In the final stage, a layer of NiMnSe was deposited on top of the first layer by controlling the electrodeposition conditions. The optimization of both the duration time and potential was pursued to attain the highest level of catalytic activity. The optimized NiMnSe/CuP coating on NF demonstrates promising HER activity, at current densities of -10 and -100 mA. cm(-2), with small overpotentials of -83 and -292 mV, respectively. The electrode's stability was tested under an industrial-scale current density of -100 mA. cm(-2) for the HER, demonstrating good stability over at least 12 h. The findings revealed that the concurrent application of CuP and NiMnSe electrocatalysts yields a synergistic effect, increasing the surface-to-volume ratio and enhancing the number of active sites. The proposed electrode exhibits remarkable performance for the HER and offers a straightforward, rapid, and binder-free synthesis method, utilizing cost-effective materials for the electrocatalyst layer. As a result, it presents itself as a strong choice for applications in water splitting.