Enhanced OER electrocatalyst performance by sulfur doping trimetallic compounds hybrid catalyst supported on reduced graphene oxide

Abstract

Hydrogen evolution by electrolysis of water is an effective method to solve the energy problem, but the catalyst of oxygen evolution reaction is an effective measure to solve the slow kinetics of hydrogen production from electrolytic water. Therefore, an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction is urgently needed to find. The Co-based trimetallic oxides has been prepared by using isopropyl alcohol and propan-1,3-diol as hydrothermal reaction environment and annealing at high temperature can enrich the types of active core materials of the catalyst. The sulphuration process forms the core-shell structures of crystalline and amorphous phases, and the heterogeneous interface between the crystalline and amorphous structures optimizes the electronic structure. Meanwhile, due to its excellent physical and chemical properties, not only does rGO provide a conductive substrate and promote carrier migration and high current response, but also effectively inhibits the aggregation of nanoparticles, so that the catalyst nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed and the active center is fully exposed, providing a way for oxygen release in the OER process. When Fe0.3Ni1Co2/S-C has been used as electrocatalytic for OER, the overpotential and Tafel slope were as low as 276 mV and 52.2 mV·dec−1 at 10 mA·cm−2 current density. With many improvements on transition metal catalysts, transition metal catalysts may be quickly replaced precious metal catalysts for large-scale use in electrolytic water.