Synthesis of Fe2O3 Nanorod and NiFe2O4 Nanoparticle Composites on Expired Cotton Fiber Cloth for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The design of cheap, noble-metal-free, and efficient electrocatalysts for an enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) to produce hydrogen gas as an energy source from water splitting is an ideal approach. Herein, we report the synthesis of Fe₂O₃ nanorods-NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles on cotton fiber cloth (Fe₂O₃-NiFe₂O₄/CF) at a low temperature as an efficient electrocatalyst for HERs. Among the as-prepared samples, the optimal Fe₂O₃-NiFe₂O₄/CF-3 electrocatalyst exhibits good HER performance with an overpotential of 127 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^-2, small Tafel slope of 44.9 mV dec^-1, and good stability in 1 M KOH alkaline solution. The synergistic effect between Fe₂O₃ nanorods and NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles of the heterojunction composite at the heterointerface is mainly responsible for improved HER performance. The CF is an effective substrate for the growth of the Fe₂O₃-NiFe₂O₄ nanocomposite and provides conductive channels for the active materials' HER process.