Investigation on the electrocatalytic activity of hierarchical flower like architectured Cu3SnS4 for hydrogen evolution reaction

Noble metal-free CZTS electrocatalysis: synergetic characteristics and emerging applications towards water splitting reactions

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the production and modification of CZTS nanoparticles (NPs) and their application in electrocatalysis for water splitting. Various aspects, including surface modification, heterostructure design with carbon nanostructured materials, and tunable electrocatalytic studies, are discussed. A key focus is the synthesis of small CZTS nanoparticles with tunable reactivity, emphasizing the sonochemical method's role in their formation. Despite CZTS's affordability, it often exhibits poor hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) behavior. Carbon materials like graphene, carbon nanotubes, and C60 are highlighted for their ability to enhance electrocatalytic activity due to their unique properties. The review also discusses the amine functionalization of graphene oxide/CZTS composites, which enhances overall water splitting performance. Doping with non-noble metals such as Fe, Co., and Ni is presented as an effective strategy to improve catalytic activity. Additionally, the synthesis of heterostructures consisting of CZTS nanoparticles attached to MoS2-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrids is explored, showing enhanced HER activity compared to pure CZTS and MoS2. The growing demand for energy and the need for efficient renewable energy sources, particularly hydrogen generation, are driving research in this field. The review aims to demonstrate the potential of CZTS-based electrocatalysts for high-performance and cost-effective hydrogen generation with low environmental impact. Vacuum-based and non-vacuum-based methods for fabricating CZTS are discussed, with a focus on simplicity and efficiency. Future developments in CZTS-based electrocatalysts include enhancing activity and stability, improving charge transfer mechanisms, ensuring cost-effectiveness and scalability, increasing durability, integrating with renewable energy sources, and gaining deeper insight into reaction processes. Overall, CZTS-based electrocatalysts show great promise for sustainable hydrogen generation, with ongoing research focused on improving performance and advancing their practical applications.

One-Dimensional Selenidostannates Based on an Infrequent Tetrameric Cluster [Sn4Se12] Exhibiting Electro-Catalytic Properties

The discovery of low-cost and efficient electro-catalytic materials for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is very desirable in hydrogen energy technology. Here, a new type of one-dimensional (1-D) organic hybrid selenidostannate [Ni(en)₃]_n[Sn₂Se₅]_n (SnSe-1, en = ethylenediamine) with an in situ [Ni(en)₃]²⁺ complex was achieved by the solvothermal reaction of Sn, Se, and NiCl₂·6H₂O in a mixed solvent of en and triethanolamine at 160 °C for 10 days. The crystal structure of SnSe-1 contains a unique 1-D [Sn₂Se₅^2-]_n chain built up from the sharing-edge connection of a hitherto-unknown tetrameric [Sn₄Se₁₂] cluster, which is separated by discrete [Ni(en)₃]²⁺ complexes. SnSe-1 is first combined with Ni nanoparticles supported on conductive porous Ni foam (NF) to constitute a Ni/SnSe-1/NF electrode as the HER electro-catalyst, displaying superior electro-catalytic activity in near-neutral conditions.