2D MXene Ti3C2 Coupled with 1D Co3O4 Nanowires on Carbon Cloth for Efficient Chlorine Evolution Activity

Abstract

AbstractChlorine evolution reaction (CER) is a key anode reaction in chlor‐alkali electrolysis. Although non‐precious metals have been widely used as CER catalysts, their low catalytic activity has been a major constraint on their development. Herein, 1D Co3O4 coupled with 2D Ti3C2 MXene on carbon cloth for highly efficient CER is reported by constructing two different heterojunctions (1D Co3O4 tip to 2D Ti3C2 face and 1D face to 2D face) through electronic coupling and strong interfacial interaction. The decreased electron density around O atoms in Co─O and Ti─O at two heterojunctions is more conducive to the adsorption of Cl−, thereby reducing the free energy of the reaction and jointly promoting CER. Consequently, the MXene@Co3O4/CC (carbon cloth) exhibits a low overpotential of 86 mV at 10 mA cm−1, low tafel slope of 47.9 mV dec−1, which is superior to commercial DSA and other non‐precious metal materials. This work provides new insights into the rational design of multiple heterojunctions, which leads to a new path for non‐precious metal catalysts in CER.