Low-cost flexible textile electrocatalyst for overall water splitting.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Cotton fiber offers excellent braidability and abundant functional groups for stable catalyst anchoring.
• Conventional catalysts for electrocatalytic overall water splitting (OWS) often suffer from shedding and reduced activity.
• Developing robust and efficient OWS catalysts is crucial for sustainable hydrogen production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To utilize cotton fiber as a stable support for electrocatalysts in overall water splitting (OWS).
• To investigate the prevention of catalyst shedding and activity loss during OWS using functionalized cotton fibers.
• To explore the potential of cotton-based electrocatalysts for efficient hydrogen generation.

Main Methods:

• Cotton fibers were functionalized to create stable anchoring sites for catalytically active centers.
• The functionalized cotton fibers were employed as electrode materials in an electrocatalytic overall water splitting (OWS) setup.
• Electrocatalytic performance, including catalyst stability and activity, was evaluated during OWS.

Main Results:

• Cotton fiber's unique properties allowed for stable anchoring of catalytic centers, preventing shedding.
• The developed cotton-based electrocatalysts demonstrated sustained activity throughout the overall water splitting (OWS) process.
• Reduced catalyst degradation and maintained high efficiency were observed compared to traditional supports.

Conclusions:

• Functionalized cotton fiber provides a robust and effective platform for stable electrocatalyst immobilization.
• This approach significantly mitigates catalyst shedding and activity reduction in electrocatalytic overall water splitting (OWS).
• Cotton-based electrocatalysts offer a promising strategy for efficient and durable hydrogen production via water splitting.