An advanced flower-like Co-Ni/PI-CNT film electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

The low-cost and efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) hold a key to sustainable energy conversion. Here, a novel flower-like Co-Ni alloy was fabricated on the polyimide-carbon nanotube (PI-CNT) film by the double step potential deposition method. The nanostructure of Co-Ni alloy and the underlying PI/CNT film result a great catalytic OER performance of Co-Ni/PI-CNT film. The obtained results indicated Co-Ni(1:1)/PI-CNT film performed the best electrocatalytic property comparing with that of the Co-Ni/PI-CNT films with other atomic ratio. Besides, the deposition times played an important role to effect the OER activity of films and the research confirmed the Co-Ni(100s)/PI-CNT film was the best one. The prepared Co-Ni(1:1,100s)/PI-CNT film exhibited an earlier onset potential about 1.50 V and a small Tafel slope of 59 mV/decade. The facile electrodeposition synthesis of such efficient catalyst based on mixed-metals provides a new way for the rational design of high-performance catalyst for water splitting. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.