Ag3PO4-Bi2WO6-TiO2 as a high performance electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Highly capable electrocatalysts are important for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in metal–air battery processes. As such, the introduction of noble metals with suitable components and nanostructures is a promising approach. This is the first example of an electrocatalyst based on the ternary nanocomposite of Ag3PO4, Bi2WO6, and TiO2 catalyzing OER in a 1 M KOH solution. The Ag3PO4-Bi2WO6-TiO2 nanostructures were synergistic due to the enhanced electronic effect of Ag3PO4, which improved the OER performance at an overpotential of 360 mV. The Ag3PO4-Bi2WO6-TiO2 nanohybrid was stable and exhibited a remarkable efficiency of 99.8 % for the OER. In comparison with the catalytic activity of Bi2WO6-TiO2 and TiO2, Ag3PO4-Bi2WO6-TiO2 proved to be a highly efficient OER catalyst. The anchoring of Ag3PO4 on a binary catalyst array represents a new strategy for the design of high-capacity OER electrocatalysts.