CoM-ZSM5 (M = Zn and Ni) Zeolites for an Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media

Abstract

An ion-exchange procedure of synthetic zeolite ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 15) was used to prepare three cobalt ZSM-5 zeolites (CoM-ZSM5 (M = Zn and Ni)) that were examined for OERs in alkaline media. The structural, morphological, and surface properties of the prepared materials were studied by X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. All three electrocatalysts showed OER activity where CoNi-ZSM5 presented the highest current density (9.5 mA cm−2 at 2 V), the lowest Tafel slope (134 mV dec−1), and the lowest resistances of the charge transfer reaction (31.5 Ω). Overpotential (ηonset) at an onset potential of 410 mV for both CoNi-ZSM5 and Co-ZSM5 and 440 mV for CoZn-ZSM5 electrodes was observed. Co-ZSM5 showed somewhat lower OER catalytic activity than CoNi-ZSM5, while CoZn-ZSM5 demonstrated the lowest OER catalytic activity. The Rct of CoZn-ZSM5 is significantly higher than the Rct of CoNi-ZSM5, which could lead to their different OER activities. Good OER stability and low price are the main advantages of the synthesized CoM-ZSM5 samples in this study.