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Simultaneous Modulation of Composition and Oxygen Vacancies on Hierarchical ZnCo 2 O 4 /Co 3 O 4 /NC‐CNT Mesoporous Dodecahedron for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Author(s) -
Ma Yangde,
Yang Yang,
Dai Xiaoping,
Luan Xuebin,
Yong Jiaxi,
Qiao Hongyan,
Zhao Huihui,
Cui Meilin,
Zhang Xin,
Huang Xingliang
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201803399
Subject(s) - oxygen evolution , mesoporous material , materials science , chemical engineering , oxygen , tafel equation , catalysis , carbon fibers , water splitting , bimetallic strip , electrochemistry , chemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , photocatalysis , composite material , composite number , engineering
Electrochemical water splitting is a promising way for the sustainable production of hydrogen, but the efficiency of the overall water‐splitting reaction largely depends on the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) because of its sluggish kinetics. Herein, a series of hierarchical ZnCo 2 O 4 /Co 3 O 4 /NC‐CNT (NC‐CNT=nitrogen‐rich carbon nanotube) mesoporous dodecahedrons grafted to carbon nanotubes have been synthesized from ZnCo bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZnCo‐ZIFs) through sequential pyrolysis in nitrogen and mild oxidation in air. The simultaneous modulation of oxygen vacancies, composition, and hierarchical mesoporous architecture remarkably enhanced their electronic conduction and the amount and reactivity of accessible actives; thus boosting their intrinsic activity in the OER. The optimal ZnCo 2 O 4 /Co 3 O 4 /NC‐CNT‐700 sample exhibited a large current density of 50 mA cm −2 at a potential of 1.65 V, a small Tafel slope of 88.5 mV dec −1 , and superior stability in alkaline media. This work should provide a facile strategy for the rational design of advanced OER catalysts by simultaneous engineering of oxygen vacancies and composition.