Improvement in catalytic performance of CuFe2O4/PANI nanocomposite for robust water splitting

The improvement of renewable and highly active electroactive catalysts for OER (oxygen evolution reaction) is a crucial scientific objective to meet global energy requirements. This work specifically examines the production of a composite material based on CuFe₂O₄/PANI using a hydrothermal method. This composite structure serves as a catalyst for assessing effectiveness of OER in basic environments. The sample exhibits exceptional OER effectiveness in a 1.0 M KOH concentration and its cubic phase was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The fabricated composite exhibits a greater surface area, which improves catalytic performance for OER. Moreover, the CuFe₂O₄/PANI composite showed remarkable catalytic applications for OER in 1 M KOH, exhibited extraordinary stability (30 h) and a reduced overpotential (194 mV) to obtain the current density (j) (10 mA/cm²). In comparison to the pure CuFe₂O₄ nanomaterial, composite showed a minimal onset potential (1.39 V), a notable electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) of 76.25 cm² and an amazing Tafel plot (34 mV/dec). Furthermore, the intrinsic electronic structure of CuFe₂O₄ significantly enhances OER kinetics, underscoring its potential as an efficient and renewable alternative to noble metal-based electrocatalysts. These results not only validate the efficacy of the synthesized CuFe₂O₄/PANI nanocomposite as a promising OER electrocatalyst but also pave the way for its prospective integration into future energy storage systems and large-scale renewable energy conversion technologies.