Synthesis and oxygen evolution investigation for cobalt oxide and cobalt phosphate hybrid porous nanosheet networks

Abstract

With the depletion of fossil fuel resources, it is necessary to develop renewable energy-conversion technologies to help solve energy crisis. Research and development of low-cost and efficient catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is one of the trend. In this study, a kind of cobalt oxide and cobalt phosphate (Co3O4/ Co3(PO4)2) hybrid porous nanosheet networks, was synthesized via a solvothermal process. The (Co3O4/Co3(PO4)2) hybrid porous nanosheet networks structure consists of large specific surface area and is highly porous providing numerous catalytic active sites, that performs well as the catalyst for electrochemical water splitting for OER, with 300 mV onset overpotentials. In addition, the (Co3O4/Co3(PO4)2) hybrid porous nanosheet networks performs a long-term stability and works with high current density during testing. The OER performance is compatible to noble metal and transition meatal catalysts, and it can be synthesized with earth-abundant materials. The aforementioned excellence performance of (Co3O4/Co3(PO4)2) hybrid porous nanosheet networks reveals its potential of serving as electrocatalyst for OER from water electrolysis.