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<p>With the global push toward decarbonization, electrochemical hydrogen production is becoming increasingly central to green energy; however, its practical deployment remains limited by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Binder-free manufacturing of CuO/NiO hybrid electrocatalysts using pulsed laser ablation presents a promising strategy to enhance the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), particularly under alkaline and saline conditions where sluggish kinetics and chloride interference pose significant challenges. In this study, we utilize ULPING (ultra-short laser pulses for in situ nanostructure generation) to fabricate CuO/NiO hybrids directly onto Cu–Ni foil substrates via picosecond laser irradiation, eliminating the need for polymeric binders or chemical precursors. This ambient, scalable process enables precise surface engineering and oxide growth. Among the various laser powers tested, the 12&#xa0;W sample exhibited the best performance, requiring only 390&#xa0;mV and 430&#xa0;mV overpotential to achieve 10 and 50&#xa0;mA&#xa0;cm<sup>−2</sup>, respectively, in 1&#xa0;M KOH, which is a significant improvement over untreated Ni or Cu foil. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed the 12&#xa0;W electrode to possess the lowest film and charge transfer resistances, as indicated by the smallest Nyquist semi-circle and minimal impedance in Bode plots. XPS revealed an optimized Ni<sup>3+</sup>/Ni<sup>2+</sup> ratio, strong Cu<sup>2+</sup>–O coordination, and high density of surface hydroxyls and oxygen vacancies. Thermal simulations indicated that laser-induced surface temperatures plateaued around ~ 1200&#xa0;K, facilitating crystalline oxide formation while avoiding excessive defect generation. A 13+&#xa0;h stability test at 50&#xa0;mA/cm<sup>2</sup> showed excellent stability with negligible change in activity post the test. A full-cell examination with NiO/CuO as anode (OER) and NiO (HER) demonstrated achieved 50&#xa0;mA/cm<sup>2</sup> at 2.1&#xa0;V. The results demonstrate that pulsed laser ablation via ULPING enables effective tuning of oxide composition, crystallinity, and interfacial properties, making it a compelling route for binder-free electrode design. This approach offers potential for extension to doped or multi-metallic systems and scalable hydrogen generation technologies.</p>

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Binder-free manufacturing of CuO/NiO hybrid using pulsed laser ablation for improving electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月6日

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  • Sandra Susan Koshy,
  • Jyotisman Rath,
  • Amirkianoosh Kiani

摘要

With the global push toward decarbonization, electrochemical hydrogen production is becoming increasingly central to green energy; however, its practical deployment remains limited by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Binder-free manufacturing of CuO/NiO hybrid electrocatalysts using pulsed laser ablation presents a promising strategy to enhance the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), particularly under alkaline and saline conditions where sluggish kinetics and chloride interference pose significant challenges. In this study, we utilize ULPING (ultra-short laser pulses for in situ nanostructure generation) to fabricate CuO/NiO hybrids directly onto Cu–Ni foil substrates via picosecond laser irradiation, eliminating the need for polymeric binders or chemical precursors. This ambient, scalable process enables precise surface engineering and oxide growth. Among the various laser powers tested, the 12 W sample exhibited the best performance, requiring only 390 mV and 430 mV overpotential to achieve 10 and 50 mA cm−2, respectively, in 1 M KOH, which is a significant improvement over untreated Ni or Cu foil. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed the 12 W electrode to possess the lowest film and charge transfer resistances, as indicated by the smallest Nyquist semi-circle and minimal impedance in Bode plots. XPS revealed an optimized Ni3+/Ni2+ ratio, strong Cu2+–O coordination, and high density of surface hydroxyls and oxygen vacancies. Thermal simulations indicated that laser-induced surface temperatures plateaued around ~ 1200 K, facilitating crystalline oxide formation while avoiding excessive defect generation. A 13+ h stability test at 50 mA/cm2 showed excellent stability with negligible change in activity post the test. A full-cell examination with NiO/CuO as anode (OER) and NiO (HER) demonstrated achieved 50 mA/cm2 at 2.1 V. The results demonstrate that pulsed laser ablation via ULPING enables effective tuning of oxide composition, crystallinity, and interfacial properties, making it a compelling route for binder-free electrode design. This approach offers potential for extension to doped or multi-metallic systems and scalable hydrogen generation technologies.