An ultrasonication-assisted cobalt hydroxide composite with enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

A catalyst toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was synthesized by depositing cobalt hydroxide on carbon black. Ultrasonication was applied during precipitation to improve the performance of the catalyst. The ultrasonic-assisted process resulted in the refinement of the cobalt hydroxide particles from 400 nm to 50 nm, and the thorough incorporation of these particles with carbon black substrate. The resulting product exhibited enhanced OER catalytic activity with an onset potential of 1.54 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode), a Tafel slope of 18.18 mV/dec, and a stable OER potential at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, because of the reduced resistance of the catalyst and the electron transfer resistance.