Hierarchical core-shell Cu(OH)2@CoS/CF nanoarrays for electrocatalytic water oxidation

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is accompanied by four-electron transfer, and its slow reaction kinetics seriously hinders the large-scale application of water electrolysis technology. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a non-noble metal catalyst with excellent catalytic performance, good stability, and low price. In this study, we utilize interface engineering and morphology engineering strategies to electro-deposit CoS nanosheets on Cu(OH)2 nanorods to form three-dimensional hierarchical core-shell electro-catalysts, which could not only provide a large electrochemically active surface area and expose more active sites, but also facilitate electrolyte diffusion and gas product release. The catalyst exhibits good electro-catalytic activity with an overpotential of only 321 mV at a current density of 100 mA cm-2 and a stable operation of 40 h at an overpotential of 280 mV. This study provides a simple method for rapidly preparing electrocatalysts with layered core-shell nanoarray structures. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, a three-dimensional hierarchical core-shell electro-catalyst was prepared using interface engineering and morphology engineering strategies. The catalyst exhibited excellent electro-catalytic activity and stability in the oxygen evolution reaction.