Construction of three-dimensional hierarchical flower-like M(OH)(OCH 3 ) (M=Co, Cu) microspheres for high efficiency electrocatalytic oxygen evolution

Abstract

The slow kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction hinders the efficiency of water decomposition, so it is crucial to develop noble metal-free electrocatalysts for the efficient decomposition of water via oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline electrolytes. In this study, flower-like structured hydroxides grown in situ consisting of ultrathin nanosheets stacked on Fe Foam (FF) were prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method for efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. M(OH)(OCH 3 ) (M=Co, Cu) requires only a low overpotential of 270 mV and 379 mV of the OER, to provide 20 mA⋅cm -2 and 100 mA⋅cm -2 current densities respectively. With the synergistic effect of Co 2+ and Cu 2+ , the adsorption capacity of the intermediate OH* and the conductivity are improved, and the structural surface reconstruction are promoted by methoxide. In this work, the structure of FF-based electrocatalysts was modulated by Co 2+ and Cu 2+ introducing and synthesizing methoxy anions, which improved the catalytic activity of the catalysts.