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In Situ Electrochemical Formation of a Core‐Shell ZnFe 2 O 4 @Zn(Fe)OOH Heterostructural Catalyst for Efficient Water Oxidation in Alkaline Medium
Author(s) -
AppiahNtiamoah Richard,
Baye Anteneh Fufa,
Kim Hern
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.202000834
Subject(s) - catalysis , chemical engineering , oxygen evolution , materials science , electrochemistry , crystallite , zinc ferrite , water splitting , electrolysis , cyclic voltammetry , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , nanotechnology , electrode , nanoparticle , metallurgy , photocatalysis , biochemistry , electrolyte , engineering
Low‐cost, stable and highly active electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are needed to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production via water splitting. However, developing such a catalyst is still a challenge. Zinc ferrite (ZnFe 2 O 4 ) is non‐toxic and made from cheap and earth‐abundant materials making it a potential raw material for synthesizing “green” low‐cost catalysts for the OER. However, it has largely been ignored due to its low stability, conductivity and OER‐inactive Zn 2+ . Herein, ZnFe 2 O 4 is used effectively as a pre‐catalyst to synthesize core‐shell ZnFe 2 O 4 @Zn(Fe)OOH polycrystalline heterostructures in situ via cyclic voltammetry. The ZnFe 2 O 4 @Zn(Fe)OOH heterostructures display much higher OER catalytic activity and stability than the benchmark RuO 2 catalyst in alkaline medium, owing to its high conductivity, stability and electrochemically active surface area (ECSA). Our findings thus reveal a new and effective way by which ZnFe 2 O 4 can be applied in water electrolysis.