Dynamic hydrogen bubble template electrodeposition of a self-supported Co-P electrocatalyst for efficient alkaline oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

The development of efficient, inexpensive, and earth-abundant electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) represents a significant challenge for the large-scale production of hydrogen. The primary obstacle to the advancement of OER is the necessity for a considerably higher overpotential than the theoretical oxygen evolution potential, due to the sluggish kinetics of the electron transfer reaction, which involves a large amount of thermodynamic energy. In this article, amorphous and cauliflower-like Co-P electrocatalysts were in situ grown on nickel foam by dynamic hydrogen bubble template (DHBT) electrodeposition method. The Co-P electrocatalyst with Co/P ratio optimal presented excellent electrocatalytic activities with a low overpotential of 239 mV for OER at 10 mA·cm−2 and long-term stability in 1.0 M KOH. The outstanding OER performance of the catalyst is mainly attributed the synergistic effect of amorphous and cauliflower-like structure, superhydrophilicity surface, and the electronic regulation by adjusting the atomic ratio of Co to P. This research will bring fresh ideas and strategies for developing novel simple, affordable, and efficient electrocatalysts to boost OER kinetics.