Evaluation on the Potentials of Non-Nobel Metal Electrocatalyst in the Electrolysis of Water

Growing global awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development has positioned renewable resources, such as hydrogen, at the forefront of future energy solutions. Advancing the industrial and practical application of water electrolysis hinges on the development of efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts. This research focuses on the synthesis and evaluation of several non-noble-metal electrocatalysts derived from zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67). The catalytic performance of these materials was assessed through a series of electrochemical tests. We successfully verified that the synthesized NiSA@ACNTF catalyst exhibits prominent trifunctional activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Among the materials tested, NiSA@ACNTF demonstrated the highest catalytic activity and maintained exceptional stability throughout a 10-hour chronoamperometry test. These findings highlight NiSA@ACNTF as a promising, low-cost alternative to precious-metal catalysts for water splitting. The development of this affordable and efficient catalyst offers new opportunities in the renewable energy sector and paves the way for a more prosperous future for hydrogen energy.