MoO2–CoO coupled with a macroporous carbon hybrid electrocatalyst for highly efficient oxygen evolution

Abstract

Cost-effective electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reactions are attractive for energy conversion and storage processes. A high-performance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst composed of 3D ordered microporous carbon and a MoO₂ skeleton modified by cobalt oxide nanoparticles (MoO₂–CoO–Carbon) is produced through a template method. This unique 3DOM structure finely combines the larger surface area of the 3D carbon skeleton and MoO₂ as well as stablizes anchoring sites for CoO nanocrystals on the skeleton. The synergistic effect between the catalytic activity between MoO₂ and CoO as well as the enhanced electron transport arising from the carbon skeleton contributed to superior electrocatalytic OER properties of MoO₂–CoO–Carbon. The M200–C–Carbon hybrid with an overpotential as low as 0.24 V is among the best reported Mo-based OER catalysts. Moreover, the turnover frequency at an overpotential of 0.35 V is 6 times as high as that of commercial RuO₂.