Ag-Cd-B-P ternary alloy with efficient electrocatalytic activity towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)

Abstract

Recently, a stable and effective Pt-free electrocatalyst is hugely required for hydrogen generation through water splitting. In this article, we present an easy synthesis of very small particle sized electrocatalysts Ag-Cd-B-P and Cd-Ag-B-P with good catalytic activity and stability for electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic medium. Ag-Cd-B-P catalyst exihibits better performance than Cd-Ag-B-P with lower onset potential of - 0.25 V, higher electrochemical surface area of 0.50 cm², excellent current density of 1.18 A/cm² at – 1.29 V, low tafel slop of 118 mV/dec and small overpotential of 50 mV to achieve 10 mA/cm² current density. The reported Ag-Cd-B-P electrocatalyst shows good storage stability of 2 months in normal condition with only ∼2 % change in onset potential and current density.