Strongly Coupled Interface Structure in CoFe/Co 3 O 4 Nanohybrids as Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts
Author(s) -
Ma Ping,
Yang Haidong,
Luo Yutong,
Liu Yang,
Zhu Yan,
Luo Sha,
Hu Yiping,
Zhao Ziming,
Ma Jiantai
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201901424
Subject(s) - overpotential , tafel equation , catalysis , oxygen evolution , hydroxide , electrochemistry , chemical engineering , nanocrystal , chemistry , substrate (aquarium) , electrochemical energy conversion , nanotechnology , materials science , inorganic chemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , oceanography , geology , engineering
Abstract The quest for developing electrochemical energy‐storage and ‐conversion technologies continues to be a great impetus to develop cost‐effective, highly active, and electrochemically stable electrocatalysts for overcoming the activation energy barriers of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Co 3 O 4 nanocrystals have great potential as OER catalysts, and research efforts on improving the catalytic activity of Co 3 O 4 are currently underway in many laboratories. Herein, CoFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets were directly grown on the active Co 3 O 4 substrate to form nanohybrid electrocatalysts for OER. The CoFe LDH/Co 3 O 4 (6:4) nanohybrid exhibited superior catalytic performance with a low overpotential and a small Tafel slope in alkaline solution. The outstanding performance of the CoFe LDH/Co 3 O 4 (6:4) nanohybrid was primarily owing to the synergistic effects induced by the strongly coupled interface between CoFe LDH and Co 3 O 4 ; this feature enhanced the intrinsic OER catalytic activity of the nanohybrid and favored fast charge transfer. Compared with other Co 3 O 4 ‐based catalysts, the nanohybrid shows advantages and offers a feasible avenue for improving the activity of Co 3 O 4 ‐based catalysts.