Issue 33, 2011

CuxCo3−xO4 (0 ≤ x < 1) nanoparticles for oxygen evolution in high performance alkaline exchange membranewater electrolysers

Abstract

Cu incorporated Co3O4 (CuxCo3−xO4, 0 ≤ x < 1) nanoparticles were prepared using a thermal decomposition method. Properties of the CuxCo3−xO4, such as morphology, particle sizes, crystallite structure and cation distribution, were characterized with SEM, TEM, XRD and EDX. The CuxCo3−xO4 particles, with various x values, were found to be cubic spinel nanoparticles, with average size of 20–30 nm. Incorporation of Cu in the spinel lattice of Co3O4 shifted the Co3+/Co4+ redox peak as well as the onset point for OER to more negative potentials, which may be related to inversion of Cu2+ into the octahedral sites. Amongst all samples studied, Cu0.7Co2.3O4 was the most active for OER. The CuxCo3−xO4 electrodes exhibited satisfying stability during repetitive cyclic voltammetry. A membrane electrode assembly, using 3 mg cm−2 Cu0.7Co2.3O4 on the anode, demonstrated, in an alkaline membrane water electrolyser, a high current density performance of 1 A cm−2 at a voltage of 1.8 V in 1 mol dm−3 KOH at 25 °C.

Graphical abstract: CuxCo3−xO4 (0 ≤ x < 1) nanoparticles for oxygen evolution in high performance alkaline exchange membrane water electrolysers

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 Mar 2011
Accepted
27 May 2011
First published
14 Jul 2011

J. Mater. Chem., 2011,21, 12344-12351

CuxCo3−xO4 (0 ≤ x < 1) nanoparticles for oxygen evolution in high performance alkaline exchange membrane water electrolysers

X. Wu and K. Scott, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 12344 DOI: 10.1039/C1JM11312G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Spotlight

Advertisements