Multi-walled carbon nanotube integrated Ni–Co hydroxide/Cu2(OH)3NO3 heterostructures for efficient oxygen evolution in alkaline media

Sakthivel Kumaravel; Chandrasatheesh Chandramoorthy; Lalitha Gnanasekaran; Mathivanan Durai; Paranthaman Vijayakumar; Mani Durai; D. Shanmugapriya; Amanullah Fatehmulla; Jagadeesh Kumar Alagarasan; Young Ho Ahn

doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2025.147859

Multi-walled carbon nanotube integrated Ni–Co hydroxide/Cu₂(OH)₃NO₃ heterostructures for efficient oxygen evolution in alkaline media

Sakthivel Kumaravel
, Chandrasatheesh Chandramoorthy
, Lalitha Gnanasekaran
, Mathivanan Durai
, Paranthaman Vijayakumar
, Mani Durai
, D. Shanmugapriya
, Amanullah Fatehmulla
, Jagadeesh Kumar Alagarasan
, Young Ho Ahn

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (Deemed to be University)
Kyungpook National University
St. Joseph's College of Engineering
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad
Graphic Era
Chitkara University
Yeungnam University
Universidad de La Serena
King Saud University
Manipal University Jaipur

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The development of sustainable and cost-effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential for efficient hydrogen (H₂) production. In this study, Cu₂(OH)₃NO₃ (CuHN) and Ni-Co hydroxide/Cu₂(OH)₃NO₃ (CuNiCo) electrocatalysts were synthesized using the reflux method. To further enhance the electrocatalytic properties, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) were integrated into CuNiCo with various weight fractions ( x = 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 wt.%) to create composites (denoted as CuNiCo@CNT-1, 2, 3). Among these, CuNiCo@CNT-2 supported on nickel foam (NF) exhibited efficient OER activity, achieving low overpotentials (η) of 280 mV and 350 mV at current densities (J) of 50 and 100 mA/cm² in 1M KOH. This enhanced performance is attributed to improved conductivity, increased active sites, and strong electronic coupling between CuNiCo and CNT. Moreover, the CuNiCo@CNT-2ǀǀPt/C@NF electrolyzer exhibited a low cell voltage of 1.49 V at 10 mA/cm² and demonstrated excellent durability over 50 h at different current densities. These results highlight the strong potential of the CuNiCo@CNT composite as a cost-effective and robust electrocatalyst for practical water-splitting applications.

Original language	English
Article number	147859
Journal	Electrochimica Acta
Volume	547
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2025.147859
State	Published - 20 Jan 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Carbon nanotubes
CuNiCo
Electrocatalyst
Layered hydroxide
Overall water splitting
Oxygen evolution reaction

Access to Document

10.1016/j.electacta.2025.147859

Cite this

Kumaravel, S., Chandramoorthy, C., Gnanasekaran, L., Durai, M., Vijayakumar, P., Durai, M., Shanmugapriya, D., Fatehmulla, A., Alagarasan, J. K., & Ahn, Y. H. (2026). Multi-walled carbon nanotube integrated Ni–Co hydroxide/Cu₂(OH)₃NO₃ heterostructures for efficient oxygen evolution in alkaline media. Electrochimica Acta, 547, Article 147859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2025.147859

@article{925c3a472b69483e94bb867fa8adf102,

title = "Multi-walled carbon nanotube integrated Ni–Co hydroxide/Cu2(OH)3NO3 heterostructures for efficient oxygen evolution in alkaline media",

abstract = "The development of sustainable and cost-effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential for efficient hydrogen (H₂) production. In this study, Cu2(OH)3NO3 (CuHN) and Ni-Co hydroxide/Cu2(OH)3NO3 (CuNiCo) electrocatalysts were synthesized using the reflux method. To further enhance the electrocatalytic properties, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) were integrated into CuNiCo with various weight fractions ( x = 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 wt.\%) to create composites (denoted as CuNiCo@CNT-1, 2, 3). Among these, CuNiCo@CNT-2 supported on nickel foam (NF) exhibited efficient OER activity, achieving low overpotentials (η) of 280 mV and 350 mV at current densities (J) of 50 and 100 mA/cm2 in 1M KOH. This enhanced performance is attributed to improved conductivity, increased active sites, and strong electronic coupling between CuNiCo and CNT. Moreover, the CuNiCo@CNT-2ǀǀPt/C@NF electrolyzer exhibited a low cell voltage of 1.49 V at 10 mA/cm2 and demonstrated excellent durability over 50 h at different current densities. These results highlight the strong potential of the CuNiCo@CNT composite as a cost-effective and robust electrocatalyst for practical water-splitting applications.",

keywords = "Carbon nanotubes, CuNiCo, Electrocatalyst, Layered hydroxide, Overall water splitting, Oxygen evolution reaction",

author = "Sakthivel Kumaravel and Chandrasatheesh Chandramoorthy and Lalitha Gnanasekaran and Mathivanan Durai and Paranthaman Vijayakumar and Mani Durai and D. Shanmugapriya and Amanullah Fatehmulla and Alagarasan, \{Jagadeesh Kumar\} and Ahn, \{Young Ho\}",

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Kumaravel, S, Chandramoorthy, C, Gnanasekaran, L, Durai, M, Vijayakumar, P, Durai, M, Shanmugapriya, D, Fatehmulla, A, Alagarasan, JK & Ahn, YH 2026, 'Multi-walled carbon nanotube integrated Ni–Co hydroxide/Cu₂(OH)₃NO₃ heterostructures for efficient oxygen evolution in alkaline media', Electrochimica Acta, vol. 547, 147859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2025.147859

TY - JOUR

T1 - Multi-walled carbon nanotube integrated Ni–Co hydroxide/Cu2(OH)3NO3 heterostructures for efficient oxygen evolution in alkaline media

AU - Kumaravel, Sakthivel

AU - Chandramoorthy, Chandrasatheesh

AU - Gnanasekaran, Lalitha

AU - Durai, Mathivanan

AU - Vijayakumar, Paranthaman

AU - Durai, Mani

AU - Shanmugapriya, D.

AU - Fatehmulla, Amanullah

AU - Alagarasan, Jagadeesh Kumar

AU - Ahn, Young Ho

PY - 2026/1/20

Y1 - 2026/1/20

N2 - The development of sustainable and cost-effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential for efficient hydrogen (H₂) production. In this study, Cu2(OH)3NO3 (CuHN) and Ni-Co hydroxide/Cu2(OH)3NO3 (CuNiCo) electrocatalysts were synthesized using the reflux method. To further enhance the electrocatalytic properties, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) were integrated into CuNiCo with various weight fractions ( x = 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 wt.%) to create composites (denoted as CuNiCo@CNT-1, 2, 3). Among these, CuNiCo@CNT-2 supported on nickel foam (NF) exhibited efficient OER activity, achieving low overpotentials (η) of 280 mV and 350 mV at current densities (J) of 50 and 100 mA/cm2 in 1M KOH. This enhanced performance is attributed to improved conductivity, increased active sites, and strong electronic coupling between CuNiCo and CNT. Moreover, the CuNiCo@CNT-2ǀǀPt/C@NF electrolyzer exhibited a low cell voltage of 1.49 V at 10 mA/cm2 and demonstrated excellent durability over 50 h at different current densities. These results highlight the strong potential of the CuNiCo@CNT composite as a cost-effective and robust electrocatalyst for practical water-splitting applications.

AB - The development of sustainable and cost-effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential for efficient hydrogen (H₂) production. In this study, Cu2(OH)3NO3 (CuHN) and Ni-Co hydroxide/Cu2(OH)3NO3 (CuNiCo) electrocatalysts were synthesized using the reflux method. To further enhance the electrocatalytic properties, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) were integrated into CuNiCo with various weight fractions ( x = 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 wt.%) to create composites (denoted as CuNiCo@CNT-1, 2, 3). Among these, CuNiCo@CNT-2 supported on nickel foam (NF) exhibited efficient OER activity, achieving low overpotentials (η) of 280 mV and 350 mV at current densities (J) of 50 and 100 mA/cm2 in 1M KOH. This enhanced performance is attributed to improved conductivity, increased active sites, and strong electronic coupling between CuNiCo and CNT. Moreover, the CuNiCo@CNT-2ǀǀPt/C@NF electrolyzer exhibited a low cell voltage of 1.49 V at 10 mA/cm2 and demonstrated excellent durability over 50 h at different current densities. These results highlight the strong potential of the CuNiCo@CNT composite as a cost-effective and robust electrocatalyst for practical water-splitting applications.

KW - Carbon nanotubes

KW - CuNiCo

KW - Electrocatalyst

KW - Layered hydroxide

KW - Overall water splitting

KW - Oxygen evolution reaction

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105023480493

U2 - 10.1016/j.electacta.2025.147859

DO - 10.1016/j.electacta.2025.147859

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105023480493

SN - 0013-4686

VL - 547

JO - Electrochimica Acta

JF - Electrochimica Acta

M1 - 147859

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