Insights into the combined effect of coupled CuFeO2/Fe3O4 heterostructured hybrid electrocatalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution in water splitting

Hydrogen production via water electrolysis offers a promising route to sustainable energy, but the slow kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) demands efficient, cost-effective electrocatalysts to replace noble metals like platinum. We report a novel CuFeO₂/Fe₃O₄ (CD-SF) nanocomposite synthesized via microwave combustion featuring, heterostructure characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photon spectroscopy, FESEM, and HRTEM. Electrochemical tests of CD-SF on nickel foam in 1 M KOH with Pt coil (Pt-CE) and graphite rod (Gr-CE) counter electrodes show outstanding HER catalytic activity. CD-SF(Pt-CE) achieved a low overpotential of 64.6 mV at current density 10 mA cm⁻², with an exchange current density of 6.08 mA cm⁻², while CD-SF(Gr-CE) reached 94.6 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² with an exchange current density of 8.24 mA cm⁻², outperforming many non-noble metal catalysts. Both catalysts exhibited high stability over 12 h of continuous hydrogen generation. This study highlights CD-SF's potential for large-scale industrial water splitting applications.