An advanced and efficient Co3O4/C nanocomposite for the oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media

Abdul Qayoom Mugheri; Aneela Tahira; Umair Aftab; Muhammad Ishaq Abro; Arfana Begum Mallah; Gulam Zuhra Memon; Humaira Khan; Mazhar Ali Abbasi; Imran Ali Halepoto; Saleem Raza Chaudhry; Zafar Hussain Ibupoto

doi:10.1039/c9ra07224a

An advanced and efficient Co₃O₄/C nanocomposite for the oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media

RSC Adv. 2019 Oct 23;9(59):34136-34143. doi: 10.1039/c9ra07224a.

Affiliations

¹ Dr M. A. Kazi Institute of Chemistry, University of Sindh Jamshoro 76080 Sindh Pakistan zaffar.ibhupoto@usindh.edu.pk.
² Department of Science and Technology, Campus Norrkoping, Linkoping University SE-60174 Norrkoping Sweden.
³ Mehran University of Engineering and Technology 7680 Jamshoro Sindh Pakistan.
⁴ Institute of Physics, University of Sindh Jamshoro 76080 Sindh Pakistan.
⁵ University of Engineering and Technology Lahore Pakistan.

Abstract

The design of efficient nonprecious catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) or the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a necessary, but very challenging task to uplift the water-based economy. In this study, we developed a facile approach to produce porous carbon from the dehydration of sucrose and use it for the preparation of nanocomposites with cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄). The nanocomposites were studied by the powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques, and they exhibited the cubic phase of cobalt oxide and porous structure of carbon. The nanocomposites showed significant OER activity in alkaline media, and the current densities of 10 and 20 mA cm^-2 could be obtained at 1.49 and 1.51 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), respectively. The impedance study confirms favorable OER activity on the surface of the prepared nanocomposites. The nanocomposite is cost-effective and can be capitalized in various energy storage technologies.