Flower-like CoO@Cu2S nanocomposite for enhanced oxygen evolution reaction

• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2021.149441
• Publication Date: 2021-03-20T00:44:40Z
• Authors: Yanmin Li; Xiaoyin Zhang; Shaoyi Zhuo; Shilong Liu; Aixia Han; Ligui Li; Yong Tian
• Keywords: Oxygen evolution; Overpotential; Bimetallic strip

Abstract Replacing precious metals with earth-abundant elements for electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) represents a judicious way to commercialization of large-scale water-splitting systems. However, the development of low-cost, efficient and durable OER catalysts remains a huge challenge. Herein, flower-like CoO@Cu2S nanocomposites were prepared with an etch-deposition approach by using cuprous oxide microcrystals as removable templates. Owing to the substantially enlarged surface area and interfacial charge transfer effects, the resulted product Cu2S@CoO was able to serve as highly efficient and durable OER electrocatalyst with a low overpotential (277 mV) at a current density of 10 mA·cm−2 in alkaline electrolyte. This work enriches the ways to prepare complicate bimetallic nanocomposites for long-life and high-performance OER electrocatalysts.