Enhanced activity of electrodeposited WO3 thin films as bi-functional electrocatalysts for water splitting

Adil Mehboob; Ayesha Sadiqa; Awais Ahmad; Aneela Anwar; Sidra Tabassum; Muhammad Arsalan; Mohamed A. Habila; Adnan Raza Altaf; Yonggang Yao; Muftah H. El-Naas

Results in Engineering (Sep 2024)

Enhanced activity of electrodeposited WO3 thin films as bi-functional electrocatalysts for water splitting

Adil Mehboob,
Ayesha Sadiqa,
Awais Ahmad,
Aneela Anwar,
Sidra Tabassum,
Muhammad Arsalan,
Mohamed A. Habila,
Adnan Raza Altaf,
Yonggang Yao,
Muftah H. El-Naas

Affiliations

Adil Mehboob: Department of Chemistry, University of Engineering and Technology, P.O. Box 54890, Lahore, Pakistan
Ayesha Sadiqa: Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, P.O. Box 54000, Lahore, Pakistan
Awais Ahmad: Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, P.O. Box 54000, Lahore, Pakistan; Corresponding author.
Aneela Anwar: Department of Chemistry, University of Engineering and Technology, P.O. Box 54890, Lahore, Pakistan; Biomedical Engineering Department, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, 07030, USA
Sidra Tabassum: Department of Chemistry, University of Engineering and Technology, P.O. Box 54890, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Arsalan: Gas Processing Center, College of Engineering, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
Mohamed A. Habila: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
Adnan Raza Altaf: College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
Yonggang Yao: State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
Muftah H. El-Naas: Gas Processing Center, College of Engineering, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 23
p. 102516

Abstract

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The ultimate goal of the hydrogen economy is to develop an efficient and cost-effective electrocatalyst that can accelerate hydrogen synthesis from water without or with little additional energy. This study describes a unique surface modified electrodeposited nano-sized tungsten oxide (WO3) as an intriguing bi-functional electrocatalyst for OER in alkaline and HER in acidic conditions. The nano-WO3 was synthesized hydrothermally and electrodeposited on a fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) electrode. The highly uniform distribution of the WO3@FTO catalyst results in negligible charge transfer resistance, a large electroactive surface area, and increased water-splitting potential. During oxygen evolution reaction (OER), electrodeposited WO3@FTO initiates water splitting at an overpotential (η) of just 240 mV and represents a turnover frequency (TOF) of 0.59 sec−1. These results are comparable to previously reported electrocatalysts. Under an alkaline electrolyte, a current density of 15 mA/cm2 remained constant for several hours, indicating the high stability and durability of the electrodeposited WO3@FTO electrode. The electrode also performed well in hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). A Tafel slope of 46 mV/dec and −28 mV/dec was found for OER and HER, respectively, indicating an enhanced kinetics rate of reaction taking place at the electrode surface. Furthermore, in acidic conditions, the electrode represents a lower HER overpotential of 104 mV. The work provides a significant understanding of electrodeposited WO3@FTO electrodes and their role in electrochemical water splitting.

Published in Results in Engineering

ISSN: 2590-1230 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/results-in-engineering

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