Rational Construction and Design of CoTi-NiTi/TNO Species by Pulsed-Laser Irradiation for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Hydrogen is a renewable and environmentally friendly energy carrier and is regarded a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Consequently, developing electrodes with excellent hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis is a top priority in research. In this regard, the CoTi-NiTi/TNO electrode was synthesized through a single-step laser method in a nitrogen atmosphere utilizing precursors infused with Co and Ni. Importantly, the CoTi-NiTi/TNO||IrO2 electrolyzer demonstrated excellent water-splitting efficiency, reaching a voltage of 1.5 V at a current density of 50 mA cm-2 in 0.5 M H2SO4, surpassing the commercial Pt/C||IrO2 configuration, which only achieved 1.5 V at a current density of 22 mA cm-2. Importantly, the CoTi-NiTi/TNO||IrO2 displayed a remarkable stability that operated at 10 mA cm-2 for over 48 h without significant decay. The laser-induced annealing approach offers several advantages. These include the prevention of particle aggregation, an increase in yield, a reduction in processing time, and potentially lower energy consumption.