Pristine Graphene Electrode in Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Graphene, a 2D material, shows promise in electrochemistry but suffers from surface contamination and poor endurance.
• Existing fabrication methods often compromise graphene's pristine surface and long-term stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for fabricating graphene electrodes with improved surface quality and electrochemical stability.
• To investigate the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance of graphene on various substrates.
• To explore the potential of 2D materials as protective and coupling layers for catalysts.

Main Methods:

• A PMMA-assisted, flipped transfer technique was employed to fabricate graphene electrodes.
• Single-layer graphene (SLG) HER performance was evaluated on substrates like SiO2, polymers, SLG, HOPG, and copper.
• Electrochemical analysis, including Tafel slope measurements, was conducted.

Main Results:

• The PMMA-assisted transfer method yielded graphene electrodes with pristine surfaces and prolonged lifetimes for HER.
• Graphene, bilayer graphene (BLG), and HOPG exhibited parallel Tafel slopes, indicating shared sp2 carbon basal plane activity.
• Single-layer graphene (SLG) and single-layer hexagonal boron nitride (SLBN) acted as semi-transparent barriers for HER on copper.

Conclusions:

• The developed transfer method effectively overcomes graphene surface contamination and enhances electrochemical endurance.
• Graphene's intrinsic electrochemical activity is comparable to HOPG for HER.
• 2D materials like SLG and SLBN can serve as protective and coupling layers, opening new avenues for catalyst design.