1 research outputs found
Efficient Charge Transfers in Highly Conductive Copper Selenide Quantum Dot-Confined Catalysts for Robust Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Defective
quantum dots (QDs) are the emerging materials for catalysis
by virtue of their atomic-scale size, high monodispersity, and ultra-high
specific surface area. However, the dispersed nature of QDs fundamentally
prohibits the efficient charge transfer in various catalytic processes.
Here, we report efficient and robust electrocatalytic oxygen evolution
based on defective and highly conductive copper selenide (CuSe) QDs
confined in an amorphous carbon matrix with good uniformity (average
diameter 4.25 nm) and a high areal density (1.8 × 1012 cm–2). The CuSe QD-confined catalysts with abundant
selenide vacancies were prepared by using a pulsed laser deposition
system benefitted by high substrate temperature and ultrahigh vacuum
growth conditions, as evidenced by electron paramagnetic resonance
characterizations. An ultra-low charge transfer resistance (about
7 Ω) determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement
indicates the efficient charge transfer of CuSe quantum-confined catalysts,
which is guaranteed by its high conductivity (with a low resistivity
of 2.33 μΩ·m), as revealed by electrical transport
measurements. Our work provides a universal design scheme of the dispersed
QD-based composite catalysts and demonstrates the CuSe QD-confined
catalysts as an efficient and robust electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution
reaction