Study on the performance of Co–Ni sulfide electrocatalysts supported by different fibroin-based carbon precursors.

Research on sustainable energy sources is crucial for alleviating environmental issues and addressing energy security concerns. This study investigates the utilization of various silk precursors in the hydrogen evolution reaction. Waste silk fabric, regenerated silk fibroin film, porous silk fibroin, silk cocoon and degummed silk fibroin were used as precursors to prepare HER electrocatalysts. To investigate the influence of precursor form on catalytic perform9ance, a comparative analysis of the morphology, structure and composition of different materials was conducted. Among various catalysts, waste silk fabric based catalysts exhibit the most excellent catalytic activity, with an overpotential of 113 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 30.9 mV/dec. Even After 1000 cycles of testing, it still maintains excellent catalytic activity. This study provides insights into the influence of precursor forms on the electrochemical performance of biomass carbon-based catalysts, aiming to inspire further research in this field. • Different precursors can exhibit different structures and properties. • NiCo 2 S 4 demonstrates effective bonding capabilities with diverse precursors. • NiCo 2 S 4 exhibits optimal catalytic activity when combined with WS. • The optimal HER overpotential and C dl are 113 mV and 22.46 mF cm−2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]