Facile One-step Synthesis Research Articles

Facile one-step synthesis of a WO3/ZnWO4 heterojunction modified using ZnFe LDH enhances the PEC water splitting efficiency.

Photoelectrochemical water splitting represents a promising approach for directly converting solar energy into green hydrogen, offering a potential solution to the challenges of energy shortages and environmental pollution. In this work, a WO3/ZnWO4 binary heterojunction was synthesised by a simple and effective one-step drop casting method to enhance the charge separation efficiency; ZnFe LDH was deposited on the surface of the heterojunction with the aim of accelerating water oxidation and synergising with the heterojunction to enhance the photoelectrochemical performance of the photoanode. The photocurrent density of the WO3/ZnWO4/ZnFe LDH electrode can reach 2.1 mA cm-2 at 1.23 V (vs. RHE). This value is approximately 4 times greater than that observed for pure WO3 (0.53 mA cm-2). The IPCE and ABPE were able to improve by 3.1 times and 6 times, respectively.

High-voltage and highly reversible redox chemistry of in situ cross-linked polydiphenylamine as an aqueous zinc battery cathode

Organic redox-active materials are promising electrode candidates for the next generation of rechargeable batteries owing to their versatile redox chemistry, sustainability, and potential low cost. Here, we present polydiphenylamine as a moderately high-voltage (1.25 V vs. Zn) and highly reversible organic cathode for aqueous zinc batteries. As revealed by cyclic voltammetry and spectroscopic analysis, the chemical oxidation–derived diphenylamine dimer electrochemically transforms into a cross-linked polymeric material during the first electrochemical oxidation (charge), which then operates by p-doping/dedoping redox of the amine center and a pseudocapacitor-like solid-state charge storage mechanism during the subsequent discharge-charge cycles. With an 80 wt% active loading, the polymer cathode delivers a specific capacity of 138 mAh/g at 100 mA/g, with 73% retention over 1000 cycles at a 99.8% Coulombic efficiency. Excellent rate capability is evidenced by 87 mAh/g capacity at 400 mA/g and highly stable cycling of over 1200 cycles under variable current rates. Facile one-step synthesis, fast charge storage kinetics, and attractive electrochemical performance establish polydiphenylamine as a notable organic cathode candidate for aqueous zinc batteries.

A Proton-Conductive Co(II)-Polyoxometalate Acts as a Precatalyst for Efficient Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation.

A cobalt(II)-containing polyoxometalate, [H3O]5[{Co(H2O)4}3{Na(H2O)4}W12O42]·3H2O (Co-POM), has been isolated in a one-step facile aqueous synthesis and characterized unambiguously using single-crystal X-ray crystallography along with routine spectral analysis. The paratungstate cluster anion [W12O42]12- coordinates with {CoII(H2O)4}2+ and {Na(H2O)4}+ complex cations resulting in the formation of the water-insoluble Co-POM compound having three-dimensional (3-D) extended structure. Motivated by the protonated water molecules existing as the counter cations in Co-POM, herein, we demonstrate the detailed proton conductivity studies of the Co-POM, reaching a value of 1.04 × 10-2 S cm-1 at 80 °C and 98% relative humidity (RH). The temperature- and humidity-dependent proton conductivity in Co-POM is governed by Grotthus mechanism with Ea = 0.25 eV. In addition, we examined the electrochemical behavior of Co-POM, in an alkaline borate buffer where it is found to be electrochemically unstable and acts as a precatalyst (and not a true catalyst) for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). We also discuss the "post-mortem" analysis of the postelectrolysis sample to identify the active species which turns out to be a cobalt oxide material (Co3O4) incorporating small amounts of tungsten. Thus, in the present electrocatalysis work, the Co-POM molecule transforms into an efficient water oxidation catalyst (WOC).

Facile one-step synthesis of three-dimensional network-structured polyester plasticizers with superior migration resistance in poly(vinyl chloride)

Facile one-step synthesis of three-dimensional network-structured polyester plasticizers with superior migration resistance in poly(vinyl chloride)

Green synthesis of N,S dual heteroatom-doped fluorescent carbon dots (N,S-CDs) and their applications in gentamicin sensing and dual-switch anti-counterfeiting encryption

Herein, we report a facile one-step solvothermal synthesis of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped fluorescent carbon dots (N,S-CDs) using benzoic acid as the carbon source and sulfonamide as the doping agent. The synthesized N,S-CDs exhibit stable photoluminescence with an impressive fluorescence quantum yield of 16.8 %. These N,S-CDs maintain their luminescent properties under various challenging conditions, including high salt concentrations, elevated temperatures, UV radiation exposure, acidic or alkaline environments, long-term storage, and different solvents. Notably, the photoluminescence of N,S-CDs is excitation-wavelength dependent, with emission wavelengths tunable from 470 nm to 585 nm. Furthermore, the N,S-CDs display distinct fluorescent hues in aqueous and ethanolic media, presenting a novel dual-switch anti-counterfeiting ink system. Leveraging the sensitivity of N,S-CDs to gentamicin, we have developed a facile and rapid detection method for this antibiotic, which has been successfully applied to the analysis of authentic milk samples. This research contributes a novel and efficient protocol for the fabrication of high-performance carbon dots, thereby expanding their potential applications in food analysis and anti-counterfeiting technologies.

Facile one-step synthesis and characterization of MnO nanoneedles and their application in solar photocatalysis

Manganese oxide (MnO) colloidal nanoneedles have been successfully synthesized by a facile one-step method based on the alkaline reaction of the precursor manganese acetate salt and excess sodium hydroxide. X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the synthesized MnO nanoneedles phase and structure. The optical properties of synthesized MnO nanoneedles were studied by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. Optical particle size and band gap of synthesized MnO colloidal nanoneedles were calculated. HR-TEM/SEM images and EDX allow us to determined particle shape and size. The photocatalytic activity of the MnO nanoneedles was evaluated using the Congo red azo dye in an aqueous solution under solar light irradiation. The results showed that nanoneedles, compared with commercial ZnO nanoparticles, exhibited high photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic studies also showed that various parameters such as band gap, size, shape, and rate constant velocity remarkably affected the remotion rate of Congo red azo dye.

Facile one-step solvothermal synthesis of Co3O4/CuO nanoflowers as an excellent catalyst for CO oxidation in coal mines

In the present study, Cobalt oxide (Co3O4)/Copper oxide (CuO) nanoflower catalysts were synthesized through a one-step solvothermal method, and the impact of various factors, including reaction time, on the catalytic activity of the catalysts towards carbon monoxide (CO) was investigated. The results showed that the catalysts synthesized at 140 °C and a reaction time of 4 h provided the best catalytic performance for carbon monoxide, and the regular nanoflower-like morphology provided a larger specific surface area as well as a greater number of active sites, allowing the instantaneous 100 % elimination of CO at 200 °C. Additionally, a plausible reaction mechanism was elucidated, wherein CO initially adsorbed onto the sample's surface, subsequently reacting with lattice oxygen to form intermediate carbonate species. This process ultimately led to the production of carbon dioxide (CO2), followed by the desorption of CO2 molecules from the sample's surface. The results demonstrate that these composite catalysts effectively mitigate CO levels during CO over limit in coal mines, thereby enhancing the safety of production personnel.

Engineering Lewis-Acid Defects on ZnO Quantum Dots by Trace Transition-Metal Single Atoms for High Glycerol-to-Glycerol Carbonate Conversion.

Efficient conversion of biomass wastes into valuable chemicals has been regarded as a sustainable approach for green and circular economy. Herein, a highly efficient catalytic conversion of glycerol (Gly) into glycerol carbonate (GlyC) by carbonylation with the commercially available urea is presented using low-cost transition metal single atoms supported on zinc oxide quantum dots (M1-ZnO QDs) as a catalyst without using any solvent. A facile one-step wet chemical synthesis allows various types of metal single atoms to simultaneously dope and introduce Lewis-acid defects in the ZnO QD structure. It is found that doping with a trace amount of isolated metal atoms greatly boosts the catalytic activity with Gly conversion of 90.7%, GlyC selectivity of 100.0%, and GlyC yield of 90.6%. Congruential results from both Density Functional Theory (DFT)and in situ Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (in situ DRIFTS) studies reveal that the superior catalytic performance can be attributed to the enriched Lewis acid sites that endow optimal adsorption, formation of the intermediate for coupling between urea and Gly, and desorption of GlyC. Moreover, the tiny size of ZnO QDs efficiently promotes the accessibility of these active sites to the reactants.

One-step facile synthesis of the photocatalyst using pyrolyzed terephthalic acid and m-phenylenediamine composite for Cr(VI) reduction in aqueous solutions

Discharging heavy metals into water bodies presents a serious environmental risk. Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is one of the harmful substances that pose substantial health hazards to humans. The aim of this research is to synthesize an organic composite photocatalyst by polymerizing m-phenylenediamine (mPD) and Terephthalic acid (TA) at high temperatures. TA and mPD interact and result in the formation of a polymerized-mPD-TA photocatalyst to reduce Cr(VI) under visible light. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopic (FESEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), UV–Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectra (UV–vis-DRS), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Mott-Schottky methods were used to characterize the produced photocatalyst. The effect of operational parameters including pH, volume of hole scavenger, photocatalyst mass, and Cr(VI) initial concentration was investigated, and the optimum conditions were clarified. To investigate the adsorptive characteristics of the prepared photocatalyst, Isotherm, and Kinetic investigations were carried out. The adsorption studies revealed that the Freundlich and pseudo-second-order (PSO) models offered a better suitable match to the experimental data. In order to investigate the practicality of the photocatalyst, reusability, and sunlight tests were carried out, and it was shown that the prepared composite possessed great durability and could perform under sunlight to reduce Cr(VI).

N-rich carbon nanosphere as fluorescent nanoprobe for intracellular iron

Nitrogen rich carbon nanoparticles are known to provide higher fluorescence stokes shift, and thereby are potential candidates for fluorescent sensors. Herein, a facile one-step hydrothermal synthesis is reported for N-rich carbon nanospheres (G-CNS) from caffeine and o-phenylenediamine as precursors. The as-synthesized G-CNS showed high fluorescence with λem at 509 nm, with a highly selective fluorescence turn-off response towards Fe2+/Fe3+, rendering these carbon nanospheres as potential candidates to detect intracellular labile iron pool in live cells. The intracellular labile iron pool in iron-overloaded cells was sensed using the synthesized G-CNS. Mechanistically, the fluorescence quenching via dynamic pathway involves the formation of an excited state charge transfer process, which undergoes non-radiative decay.

Efficient synthesis of quaternary piezo-photonic materials for pressure visualization and E-signature anti-counterfeiting

Mechanoluminescence (ML) offers a novel approach to photon emissions without requiring extra electrical input. In recent decade, a variety of ML materials have afforded advantageous prospect for various potential applications. Nevertheless, the material composition optimization and application progress are limited by the time-consuming and complicated preparation methods. Here, a one-step rapid microwave-assisted solid-state (MASS) synthesis approach is firstly employed for the preparation of CaZnOS-based quaternary ML materials with lanthanide/transition metal dopants and variable compositions. Notably, this method only takes a total synthesis duration of 20-minute microwave radiation, which can greatly facilitate the efficient preparation of a variety of ML materials. Moreover, bright host emission from the CaZnOS matrix is unexpectedly induced, providing a new opportunity for manipulating multicolor luminescence. Finally, we have proposed that the people’s writing characteristics can be analyzed by using these ML materials, which offers a great potential for pressure visualization, individualized E-signature anti-counterfeiting applications and beyond. This work not only provides a facile one-step synthesis method for the preparation of CaZnOS-based quaternary ML materials that featuring unique host emission, but also suggests the ML materials to be applied in advanced E-signature and on-demand information identification applications, which is of significance for integrated optoelectronic devices in future.

One-step facile pathway synthesis of PAPXD/1214-PEA thermoplastic elastomer: Structure and properties

In this study, a novel and facile one-step synthesis route was conducted to prepare semi-aromatic polyamide elastomer (PAPXD/1214-PEA) with p-phenylenediamine, dodecane diamine, dodecanedioic acid and polyether amine (PEA) as monomers. A systematic investigation has been conducted into the effect of hard segment content on the thermal, mechanical and solvent resistance of polymers when semi-aromatic polyamides are used as hard segments. It was found that the melting point of the copolymers gradually increased from 191.2 °C to 231.5 °C with the hard segment content increased from 39 % to 76 %, while the Vicat softening temperature (VST) enhanced from 103.2 °C to 192.2 °C. Compared with the commercial polyamide elastomer Pebax@ (produced by Arkema Inc) with similar hard segment contents, the VST of PAPXD14/1214-PEA were 17.4–66.2 °C higher. The mechanical performance of these elastomers was also largely improved with tensile strength increasing from 15.1 to 40.6 MPa, Young's modulus from 28.2 to 168.7 MPa, toughness from 91.1 to 170.7 MJ/m3. In addition, the solvent resistance properties of PAPXD14/1214-PEA was compared with the commercial polyamide elastomer Pebax@. After soaking in hydrochloric acid for 24 h, the tensile strength of PAPXD/1214-PEA with the hard segment content increased from 50 % to 63 % decreased down to 9.4 and 14.4 MPa, respectively. While the commercial polyamide elastomer Pebax@ (with similar hard segment content) decreased down to 1.5 and 4.3 MPa, indicating the commercial polyamide elastomer products were deteriorated. This suggests the corrosion resistance of the synthesized PAPXD/1214-PEA is much better than that of commercial product, and these semi-aromatic polyamide elastomers can be potentially applied in some harsh service environment especially for high temperature and corrosion sealing.

Facile one-step synthesis of in situ WO3@Gr nanorods as an efficient material for antimicrobial and decoloration applications

This work examined the synthesis, antibacterial activity, and decolourisation of WO3@Graphene nanorods (WO3@Gr NR). WO3@Gr NR nanocomposite was in situ produced via a facile one-step hydrothermal process employing sodium tungstate dihydrate and exfoliated graphene as precursors. The resulted NR exhibited an average diameter of 13 nm, a large specific surface area of 53.3 m2 g−1, and a bimodal pore size distribution with an average pore size of 5.5 nm. The optical bandgap is extrapolated to be 2.75 eV. Graphene was shown to be responsible for the sample’s elaborate visible-light absorption, which improved adsorption and the ability to harvest visible light. WO3@Gr NR are more efficient against E. coli than S. aureus, killing up to 52% and 39% of cells, respectively, after two hours of treatment. When used in conjunction with invisible light, the NR killed E. coli and S. aureus by 78 and 62%, respectively. The bactericidal activity of photoinduced WO3@Gr NR was evaluated against P. aerugunosa, E. faecalis, E. coli, and S. aureus. The photocatalytic constant rates of organic dye methylene blue (MB) were determined to be 0.01 min−1. An IC50 (50% cell growth inhibition) value of 97 (μg ml−1) was determined for the nanocomposite against human liver cancer cell lines (HepG2). Our findings suggest that this nanorod may be utilised to degrade bacteria and organic colours in wastewater simultaneously while posing no risk to human health.

Hydrothermal synthesis of high-performance cobalt phosphate nanorod architecture as bifunctional electrocatalysts for rechargeable Zn-air batteries and supercapatteries

Transition metal phosphate bifunctional electrocatalysts demonstrate superior oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and capacitive properties owing to their high electrocatalytic and conductive activities. In this report, cobalt phosphate (Co3P2O8) nanorod (NR) electrocatalytic materials were developed via a facile one-step hydrothermal synthesis, followed by an annealing process. The unique NR structures offer superior electrocatalytic activities, continuous and quick electron transport pathways, short ion diffusion lengths, and rich active sites toward rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) and supercapatteries (SCs). The self-assembled Co3P2O8 NR electrocatalyst revealed higher current density values during the OER and ORR measurements than the commercially available Pt/C and IrO2 materials. The Co3P2O8 NR electrocatalyst exhibited an excellent OER overpotential of 180 mV. The electocatalyst also showed superior onset and half-wave potentials of 0.92 V and 0.80 V, respectively. Moreover, the fabricated Co3P2O8 NRs-based ZAB exhibited better durability than the Pt/C-based ZAB. Significantly, the Co3P2O8 NR electrode demonstrated an excellent specific capacity of 373 mAh g−1 with outstanding cycling stability of 99% after 5000 cycles. Additionally, the fabricated Co3P2O8 NRs//activated carbon SC demonstrated high specific energy and power densities of 25.62 Wh kg−1 and 2953.12 W kg−1, respectively with remarkable cycling stability of 89% after 7000 cycles. Specifically, the practical applicability of the fabricated Co3P2O8 NRs-based ZAB and SC was tested using a blue light-emitting diode nameplate energized by two devices in series. Overall, the catalytic and energy-storage properties of the Co3P2O8 NR material can provide a new pathway for high-energy electrochemical applications.

Facile one-step solvothermal synthesis of flower-like BiOBr microspheres for the efficient degradation of organic dyes under visible light irradiation

In this study, BiOBr microspheres were successfully synthesized through a facile solvothermal route in the presence of glycerol. The photocatalysts were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The morphology of BiOBr-6, which was synthesized using glycerol, comprised flower-like structures with diameters of ∼2 μm, which were composed of two-dimensional flakes with the sizes of tens of nanometers. The photocatalytic activity of the optimized BiOBr-6 was evaluated through the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B, methylene blue, methyl orange, and chrome blue-black R under visible light irradiation. Within 60 min, the degradation rates of Rh B、MB and MO reached 99.7 %, 99.6 % and 98.1 %, and within 90 min，the degradation rates of C-R reached 98.0 %. We concluded that the highly visible-light-driven catalytic performance of the flower-like BiOBr sample was associated with its high surface area, porous structure, and low bandgap energy, as well as its unique microsphere morphology. The resulting BiOBr microspheres may serve as promising adsorbents and photocatalysts for the treatment of organic pollutants.

One-Pot Synthesis of Alkyl Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites as the Lubrication Additive Enabling Enhanced Tribological Performance.

Recently, aiming for the enhanced dispersibility of graphene-based nanomaterials in lubricating oil matrices to serve as highly efficient lubricant additives, numerous modification approaches have been extensively studied. However, these previous modification routes usually involve a tedious multistep modification process or multitudinous toxic reagents, restricting their extensive practical application. In this work, novel graphene oxide (GO) nanoadditives (RGO-g-BO) featuring excellent durable dispersion capability and remarkable tribological performance were successfully prepared via an environmentally friendly one-step approach consisting of surface grafting of long-chain bromooctadecane (BO) and in situ chemical reduction. Benefiting from the greatly improved lipophilicity (resulting from the introduction of hydrophobic long-chain alkane groups and chemical reduction), along with the miniaturization effect, RGO-g-BO exhibits superior long-term dispersion stability in the finished oil. Moreover, the tribological properties results demonstrated that the finished oil filled with RGO-g-BO nanolubricants achieved an outstanding friction-reducing and antiwear performance. Particularly, under the optimum content of RGO-g-BO (as low as 0.005 wt%), the friction coefficient as well as the wear volume of the composite finished oil were greatly reduced by 13% and 53%, respectively, as compared with nascent finished oil. Therefore, in view of the advantages of low-cost, one-step facile synthesis, desirable dispersion capability, and remarkable tribological performance, RGO-g-BO holds great prospects as a highly efficient lubrication additive in the tribology field.

PBA-Derived Heteroatom-Doped Mesoporous Graphitic Spheroids as Peroxidase Nanozyme for In Vitro Tumor Cells Detection.

Inspired by the two kinds of naturally occurring peroxidases (POD) with vanadium or heme (iron)-based active catalytic centers, we have developed a dual metal-based nanozyme with dual V and Fe-based active catalytic centers. Co-doping of graphene with heteroatoms has a synergistic effect on the catalytic properties of the nanomaterial as the distances of migration of the substrates drastically reduce. However, a few studies have reported the codoping of heterometallic elements in the graphene structure due to the complexity of the synthesis procedures. Herein, we report the synthesis of in situ doped bimetallic VNFe@C mesoporous graphitic spheroids nanozyme via pyrolysis without the assistance of any template assisted method. The Prussian-blue analog-based precursor material was synthesized by a facile one-step low-temperature synthesis procedure. The bimetallic spheroids showed an excellent affinity toward H2O2, with a Km value of 0.26 mM when compared to 0.436 for the natural POD, which is much better than the natural POD, which was utilized to detect tumor cells in vitro through the intracellular H2O2 produced by these cells under high oxidative stress. The VNFe@C mesoporous spheroids generate dual reactive oxygen species, including the •OH and •O2H- radicals, in the presence of H2O2, which are responsible for the POD-like activity of these nanozymes, while the bimetallic V/Fe doping plays a synergistic role in the enhancement of the activity of codoped graphitic spheroids.

Controlled synthesis of graphene-based hybrids on hydration-dehydration treated bio-shell-derived catalysts

Graphene-based hybrids such as carbon nanotube/graphene nanosheet (CNT/GNS), carbon nanofiber/graphene nanosheet (CNF/GNS), and CNF-CNT/GNS have attracted extensive attention in energy-related applications due to their excellent properties. The selective synthesis of GNS-based hybrids usually relies on the precise design of metal catalysts and multiple tedious processes. Here, a facile one-step synthesis of GNS-based hybrids was successfully performed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on waste bio-shell derived catalysts without the addition of extra metal components, and GNS-based hybrids were selectively synthesized through the hydration and dehydration (H-D) treatment of catalysts. When eggshells were calcined at high temperature, the obtained E-CaO catalyst only synthesized GNSs. After E-CaO was treated by the H-D method, the obtained E-CaO-H-1 catalyst grew CNF/GNS. E-CaO-H-2 catalyst was further prepared by the H-D treatment of E-CaO-H-1, which produced CNF-CNT/GNS. Multiple characterizations of catalysts demonstrated that the high-temperature calcination of eggshells led to the aggregation of CaO and incorporation of Fe into CaO lattices, and thus only GNSs were synthesized on CaO. However, after the H-D treatment of E-CaO, the Fe element was released from CaO lattices and the surface area of CaO enhanced with the decrease of particle size, leading to the dispersion of Fe oxides on the CaO surface, and Fe particles were subsequently formed during the CVD synthesis, which synthesized CNFs on GNS. Further, with the size reduction of Fe particles after the second H-D treatment of the catalyst, smaller Fe particles facilitated the CNT growth, leading to the production of CNF-CNT/GNS. Similarly, the catalysts formed by calcination of other bio-shells (oyster shells, shrimp shells, and crab shells) only synthesized GNSs, whereas these catalysts after H-D treatment produced CNF-CNT/GNS with enhanced carbon yields. This study offers a new method for utilizing the metal species in waste bio-shells for the facile production of structurally tunable GNS-based hybrid materials.

Itaconic Acid Cross-Linked Biomolecule Immobilization Approach on Amine-Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles for Highly Sensitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

Biomolecule immobilization on nanomaterials is attractive for biosensors since it enables the capture of a higher concentration of bioreceptor units while also serving as a transduction element. The technique could enhance the accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of the analytical measurements of biomolecules. However, it was found that the limitation in chemically binding biomolecules on nanoparticle surfaces could only cross-link between the C-terminal and N-terminal. Here, we report the facile one-step synthesis of amine-functionalized silica nanoparticles (AFSNPs). (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane was used as a precursor to modify the functional surface of nanoparticles via the Stöber process. The biomolecules were immobilized to the AFSNPs through itaconic acid, a novel cross-linker that binds between the N-terminal and N-terminal and potentially improves proteins and nucleic acid immobilization onto the nanoparticle surface. The newly developed immobilization approach on AFSNPs for biomolecular detection enhanced the efficiency of ELISA, resulting in increased sensitivity. It might also be easily used to identify different pathogens for clinical diagnostics.

Facile one-step solid-state synthesis of CuO nanoparticles finely decorated over carbon sheets for improved OER activity

Renewable energy storage and conversion in electrochemical fuel cells require highly efficient and cost-effective noble metal free electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Downscaling of a material to nanoscale morphology can lead to enhancement in its surface activities affecting its physical and chemical properties which can well serve the purpose. In lieu to this, it could be one of the first reports to tune the morphology of CuO particles to 10–25 nm finely trapped inside non-graphitic carbon sheets using a novel single step solid state reaction. XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and Raman analyses confirm the structural and morphological attributes. The synergistic effect from carbon and copper oxide resulted in the attainment of best-in-class electrode material for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The as-prepared CuO/C shows an excellent OER activity with a low overpotential of 454 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 with a low Tafel slope of 74.9 mV dec−1. The amount of carbon is optimized to get optimal performance from the CuO nanopowder.