Construction of VTe/CuO decorated on a copper mesh as an electrocatalyst for an efficient energy conversion system

Significant energy conversion systems like hydrogen production will necessitate the creation of an affordable oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this field, numerous materials are investigated, especially under more advantageous alkaline environments, and among all transition metal chalcogenides have shown a great promise for OER. On the other hand, when all chalcogenides are oxidized in alkaline conditions, they are thermodynamically less stable than hydroxides and oxides materials. The in-situ molecular, physical, and surface morphology of all the synthesized materials are confirmed via various analytical techniques and then employed for oxygen evolution process (OER) in an alkaline media. In consideration, the VTe/CuO nanostructures grown on surface of copper mesh (CM) as a substrate have enhanced OER functionality compared to VTe and CuO nanostructures. In comparison to CuO and VTe, nanocomposite has a lower overpotential around 316 mV, a smaller Tafel value around 81 mV dec⁻¹, and long-term stability up to 35 h. The very large specific surface area, lower overpotential, smaller tafel slope, and low resistance of VTe/CuO make it a superior component for upcoming uses. This work illustrates the usefulness of an interface-engineering technique for developing effective electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution process employing transition metal chalcogenides.