Decoupling Bubble Nucleation from Catalysis to Boost Cu x O/NiO Electrocatalytic Water Splitting

Efficient water splitting requires low overpotentials and mitigated bubble-induced mass transfer resistance at high current densities. However, the conflict between catalysis and bubble management intensifies at these currents, blocking mass transfer and rendering the catalytic sites inaccessible. Here, we embed CuxO nucleation promoters in NiO nanosheet arrays to minimize overpotentials in electrochemical water splitting by decoupling bubble release from catalytic activity. Electrochemical measurements confirm a drastically reduced activation and mass transfer overpotential. Operando high-speed imaging combined with deep learning quantifies accelerated O2 bubble dynamics at the CuxO/NiO/NF interface. DFT…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 22175104
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province

  Awards: 2023HWYQ-105, ZR2019ZD47, 2024CXPT033
• TS
  Taishan Scholar Project of Shandong Province
• PI
  Postdoctoral Innovation Project of Shandong Province

  Award: SDCX-ZG-202400292