Novel Titanium Carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene electrocatalyst for HER application

Abstract

Water electrolysis is a promising method for producing green hydrogen (H2), and two-dimensional (2D) materials are gaining more attention globally, especially in the field of energy conversion/storage devices, because of their special attributes. The goal of this research is to create an electrocatalyst that is cost-effective, long-lasting, and sustainable using two-dimensional (2D) MXene materials from MAX phase. This study emphasized the synthesis of Ti3C2Tx based MXene via etching method. The surface morphology, elemental analysis, surface functionalization, crystalline phase purity, and water splitting behavior of the as-prepared catalyst (Ti3C2Tx) has been examined by numerous characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrochemical measurement. The robust 2D material (Ti3C2Tx) is found to have more effective hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity in 1.0 M KOH alkaline media. The electrocatalyst exhibits rapid reaction kinetics having an overpotential of 542 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 accompanied with 170 mV/dec Tafel slope value. Additionally, as demonstrated by effective HER activity, it provides low charge transfer resistance (Rct) together with good stability, high electrochemical active surface area (ECSA), and durability for several hours. Moreover, Ti3C2Tx has superior turnover frequency and theoretical hydrogen production. Henceforth, for industrial-scale energy conversion systems, this innovative electrocatalyst may help to replace those electrocatalyst based on precious metals.