Issue 33, 2024

In situ evolution of bulk-active γ-CoOOH with immobilized Gd dopants enabling efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalysis

Abstract

Promoting the in situ reconstruction of transition metal (TM)-based precatalysts into low-crystalline and well-modified TM (oxy)hydroxides (TMOxHy) during the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for enhancing their catalytic performances. In this study, we incorporated gadolinium (Gd) into a cobalt hydroxide precatalyst, achieving a deep reconstruction into cobalt oxyhydroxide (γ-CoOOH) while retaining the incorporated Gd during the activation process of the alkaline OER. The unconventional non-leaching Gd dopants endow γ-CoOOH with reduced crystallinity, increasing the exposure of electrolyte-accessible Co atoms and enhancing its bulk activity. Furthermore, the modulation of the electronic structure of γ-CoOOH substantially boosts the intrinsic activity of the active Co sites. As a result, when supported on nickel foam, the catalyst exhibits remarkable alkaline OER performance, achieving a current density of 100 mA cm−2 at a low overpotential of approximately 327 mV. Notably, an ultrahigh current density of 1000 mA cm−2 is robustly maintained for 5 days, highlighting its immense potential for practical applications in large-scale hydrogen production.

Graphical abstract: In situ evolution of bulk-active γ-CoOOH with immobilized Gd dopants enabling efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalysis

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 Apr 2024
Accepted
21 Jul 2024
First published
25 Jul 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Nanoscale, 2024,16, 15629-15639

In situ evolution of bulk-active γ-CoOOH with immobilized Gd dopants enabling efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalysis

T. Hou, R. Yang, J. Xu, X. He, H. Yang, P. W. Menezes and Z. Chen, Nanoscale, 2024, 16, 15629 DOI: 10.1039/D4NR01743A

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