Monovalent Lithium-Doped CuO Nanostructures for Improved Hydroelectric Cell Efficiency

This study reports the use of lithium-doped copper oxide nanorod (Li@CuO NR) as a potential material for generating green energy through a hydroelectric cell, which facilitates electrochemical water splitting without the application of additional potential. The doping resulted in an increase in oxygen vacancies, which subsequently catalyzed the electrochemical water-splitting activity, and this performance enhancement can be witnessed from the obtained short-circuit current of 63 mA, a voltage of 1.06 V, and a peak power output of 66.78 mW using a minimal amount of water, surpassing the performance of most reported oxide-based hydroelectric cells. By analyzing the electrochemical behavior at different aging intervals, an increase in ion migration resistance and charge transfer resistance over time was observed. The rise in the charge transfer resistance is linked to electrode surface passivation caused by the formation of a Zn(OH)2 layer on the zinc electrode. Optimization studies on the Li@CuO-based HEC demonstrated peak performance at a sintering temperature of 400 °C, a sintering duration of 2 h, and a lithium doping concentration of 0.5 wt %.