Diethylenetriamine (DETA)-assisted anchoring of Co3O4 nanorods on carbon nanotubes as efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. Issue 4 (8th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Yu-Xia; Guo, Xin; Zhai, Xue; Yan, Yi-Ming; Sun, Ke-Ning
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 3:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 1761
• Page End: 1768
• Publication Date: 2014-12-08
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c4ta04641b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : We report the preparation of Co3 O4 @MWCNT with the assistance of DETA and use it as a high performance OER catalyst. Abstract : A Co3 O4 nanorod–multiwalled carbon nanotube hybrid (Co3 O4 @MWCNT) has been fabricated as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for water oxidation in alkaline electrolytes. The well-defined Co3 O4 nanorods were successfully anchored onto mildly oxidized MWCNTs with the assistance of diethylenetriamine (DETA) following a simple route. The as-prepared hybrid possesses a promising BET specific surface area of about 252 m 2 g −1 and shows excellent electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen evolution reactions (OERs) with an onset potential of about 0.47 V vs. Ag/AgCl and an overpotential of 309 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm −2 in 1.0 mol L −1 KOH. In addition, the Co3 O4 @MWCNT catalyst exhibits prominent stability during long-term electrolysis of water. We attribute the enhanced performance to a synergic effect between MWCNTs and Co3 O4 nanorods by gaining insight into the electrochemical properties of the Co3 O4 @MWCNT hybrid. This work offers a useful way to synthesize one-dimensional (1D) metal oxides combined with 1D carbon materials for wide applications in energy storage and conversion.