Abstract:
This work created several catalysts using a solventless technique, removing the requirement
for hazardous solvents. This highlights sustainability and green chemistry concepts. With an
emphasis on their use in the oxygen evolution process (OER), the produced catalysts were
methodically characterized to investigate their structural, morphological, and electrochemical
characteristics. Electrochemical analysis determined the catalysts’ exceptional OER activity.
The top-performing catalyst at a current density of 50 mA/cm2, displayed an exceptionally low
overpotential of 300 mV, highlighting its great catalytic efficiency. A result of 96.42 mV/dec
from the Tafel slope analysis indicated good reaction kinetics and effective charge transfer at
the electrode contact. The catalysts’ large electrochemical active surface area of the catalysts
was validated by capacitance measurements resulting from electrochemical double-layer
capacitance. The greatest Cdl value, which reached 27.5 mF/cm2, indicated an excess of active
sites for the OER process. The catalysts' exceptional performance was further verified by
electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which showed that the best-performing sample had
a charge transfer resistance of just 23 Ω, indicating quick electron transfer during the catalytic
process. This study emphasizes the solventless synthesis process as a successful and sustainable
strategy for creating high-performance OER catalysts. The results offer insightful information
on the connection between structural characteristics and electrochemical performance, opening
the door for further advancements in sustainable energy technology.
