Preparation of a nanoporous CoFe2O4/CoMoO4 composite electrode material and a study on its performance in water electrolysis

Abstract

In this study, a CoFe₂O₄/CoMoO₄ composite electrode material with a spinel structure (CoFe₂O₄) and a scheelite structure (CoMoO₄) was prepared by a hydrothermal method. The rich valence states and its unique morphological and structural advantages made the CoFe₂O₄/CoMoO₄ composite electrode material play a more effective synergistic catalytic role. Results of the electrochemical characterization showed that CoMoO₄ was attached to the CoFe₂O₄ skeleton structure in the composite electrode in a sheet form. At a current density of 50 mA cm⁻², the hydrogen evolution overpotential was 193 mV and the respective Tafel slope was 100.44 mV dec⁻¹, while the oxygen evolution overpotential was 319 mV and the corresponding Tafel slope was 70.47 mV dec⁻¹. At the same time, the overall water decomposition voltage was 1.55 V at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻², and the voltage changed only 11 mV for a 12 h continuous electrolysis, which suggested a good electrocatalytic water decomposition performance.