Open AccessMicro/nanostructured MTMOs as Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Medium
Author(s) -
Charles Lois I. Flores,
Mary Donnabelle L. Balela
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/856/1/012008
Subject(s) - overpotential , oxygen evolution , crystallinity , materials science , cobalt , crystallite , chemical engineering , catalysis , nanoparticle , transition metal , hydrothermal circulation , electrocatalyst , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrochemistry , electrode , metallurgy , composite material , biochemistry , engineering
Different nanostructured mixed transition-metal oxides were synthesized using a facile and controllable hydrothermal method. Incorporation of Cu 2+ and Ni 2+ in Co 3 O 4 structure led to an interesting morphological transformation, from quasi-spherical nanoparticles to microspherical urchin-like aggregates of radially assembled nanoneedles. These oxides have notable low crystallite size, narrow size distribution, and high degree of crystallinity. In general, partial cobalt substitution resulted in an improved electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), with NiCo 2 O 4 demonstrating superior performance among the catalysts prepared. It recorded a low overpotential of 374 mV and achieved high stability, making it competitive with state-of-the-art RuO 2 and IrO 2 (387 mV). This material is of great potential for sustainable energy applications.