Synthesis of highly active and stable spinel-type oxygen evolution electrocatalysts by a rapid inorganic self-templating method

Abstract

Composition-adjustable spinel-type metal oxides, Mnx Co3-x O4-δ (x=0.8-1.4), were synthesized in ethanol solutions by a rapid inorganic self-templating mechanism using KCl nanocrystals as the structure-directing agent. The Mnx Co3x O4δ materials showed ultrahigh oxygen evolution activity and strong durability in alkaline solutions, and are capable of delivering a current density of 10 mA cm(-2) at 1.58 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 M KOH solution, which is superior in comparison to IrO2 catalysts under identical experimental conditions, and comparable to the most active noble-metal and transition-metal oxygen evolution electrocatalysts reported so far. The high performance for catalytic oxygen evolution originates from both compositional and structural features of the synthesized materials. The moderate content of Mn doping into the spinel framework led to their improved electronic conductivity and strong oxidizing ability, and the well-developed porosity, accompanied with the high affinity between OH(-) reactants and catalyst surface, contributed to the smooth mass transport, thus endowing them with superior oxygen evolution activity.

Keywords: electrocatalysis; nanocrystals; oxygen evolution reaction; self-templating; spinels.