Fabrication of CuYO₂ Nanofibers by Electrospinning and Applied to Hydrogen Harvest

Hydrogen can be employed as an alternative renewable energy source in response to climate change, global warming, and the energy problem. Methanol gas steam reforming (SRM) is the major method used in industry to produce hydrogen. In the SRM process, the catalyst nature offers benefits such as low cost, simplicity, and quickness. In this work, delafossite copper yttrium oxide (CuYO₂) nanofibers were successfully prepared by electrospinning. The prepared CuYO₂ nanofibers have different physical and chemical properties including thermoelectric behavior. The electrospinning method was used to produce as-spun fibers and annealed in an air atmosphere to form Cu₂Y₂O₅ fibers; then, Cu₂Y₂O₅ fibers were annealed in a nitrogen atmosphere to form CuYO₂ nanofibers. X-ray diffraction studies and thermogravimetric and transmission electron microscope analysis confirmed the formation of CuYO₂ nanofibers. The CuYO₂ nanofibers were applied to methanol steam reforming for hydrogen production to confirm their catalytic ability. The CuYO₂ nanofibers exhibited high catalytic activity and the best hydrogen production rate of 1967.89 mL min⁻¹ g-cat⁻¹ at 500 °C. The highly specific surface area of CuYO₂ nanofibers used in steam reforming reactions could have significant economic and industrial implications. The performance of these CuYO₂ nanofibers in hydrogen generation could be very important in industries with a global economic impact. Furthermore, the H₂ production performance increases at higher reaction temperatures.