Template-assisted synthesis of hierarchically porous Co3O4 with enhanced oxygen evolution activity

Oxygen evolution reaction（OER） is one of the most important reactions in the energy storage devices such as metal–air batteries and unitized regenerative fuel cells（URFCs）. However, the kinetically sluggishness of OER and the high prices as well as the scarcity of the most active precious metal electrocatalysts are the major bottleneck in these devices. Developing low-cost non-precious metal catalysts with high activity and stability for OER is highly desirable. A facile, in situ template method combining the dodecyl benzene sulfuric acid sodium（SDBS） assisted hydrothermal process with subsequent high-temperature treatment was developed to prepare porous Co3O4 with improved surface area and hierarchical porous structure as precious catalysts alternative for oxygen evolution reaction（OER）. Due to the unique structure, the as-prepared catalyst shows higher electrocatalytic activity than Co3O4 prepared by traditional thermal-decomposition method（noted as Co3O4-T） and commercial IrO2 catalyst for OER in 0.1M KOH aqueous solution. Moreover, it displays improved stability than Co3O4-T. The results demonstrate a highly efficient, scalable, and low cost method for developing highly active and stable OER electrocatalysts in alkaline solutions.

THE ELECTROCATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF NiCo2O4 FOR THE OXYGEN EVOLUTION REACTION

A spinel oxide NiCo204 prepared by thermal decomposition is of very high activity for the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)in alkaline solution.The oxygen evolution overpotential on NiCo204 is 0.252-0.262V in 10 M NaOH solution at 343K and current density 100 mAcm^(-2).

Honeycomb-like MXene/NiFeP_(x)–NC with“continuous”single-crystal enabling high activity and robust durability in electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reactions

The development of low-cost,stable,and robust non-noble metal catalysts for water oxidation is a pivotal challenge for sustainable hydrogen production through electrocatalytic water splitting.Currently,such catalysts suffer from high overpotential and sluggish kinetics in oxygen evolution reactions(OERs).Herein,we report a“continuous”single-crystal honeycomb-like MXene/NiFeP_(x)–N-doped carbon(NC)heterostructure,in which ultrasmall NiFeP_(x)nanoparticles(NPs)encapsulated in the NC are tightly anchored on a layered MXene.Interestingly,this MXene/NiFeP_(x)–NC delivers outstanding OER catalytic performance,which stems from“continuous”single-crystal characteristics,abundant active sites derived from the ultrasmall NiFeP_(x)NPs,and the stable honeycomb-like heterostructure with an open structure.The experimental results are rationalized theoretically(by density functional theory(DFT)calculations),which suggests that it is the unique MXene/NiFeP_(x)–NC heterostructure that promotes the sluggish OER,thereby enabling superior durability and excellent activity with an ultralow overpotential of 240 mV at a current density of 10 mA×cm^(−2).