Long-Lasting Electrospun Co3O4 Nanofibers for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Electrocatalytic water splitting is one of the key phenomena in establishing renewable and sustainable energy technologies. Despite advances in hydrogen evolving industrial science, the oxygen electrochemistry lags behind due to the complexity in seeking suitable and stable electrocatalysts, in unifying electrolytic conditions and hence sluggish reaction kinetics. Herein, we report on the electrocatalytic activity of the cobalt oxide nanofibers in alkaline oxygen evolution reaction with a substantial operation lifetime of 120 hours. The unique preparation of fibers by electrospinning enables increased electrode networking and nanofibrous interaction thus leading to extended catalytically active surface area, imperative for well-performing electrolysis. Operating at low overpotential of 293 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, as well as low Tafel slope of 60.5 mV dec−1 in 1 M KOH indicate the efficient utilization of nanofibrous Co3O4 electrocatalyst towards oxygen evolution with an excellent long-term durability over 100 hours.