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Interfacial Engineering FeOOH/CoO Nanoneedle Array for Efficient Overall Water Splitting Driven by Solar Energy.
Chunyu Qiu1, Suqi He1, Yuan Wang2
1College of Chemistry and Environment, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Modern Analytical Science and Separation Technology, Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou, 363000, China.
Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|November 6, 2019
Summary
Interface engineering created a FeOOH/CoO catalyst with synergistic effects, showing excellent performance for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. This bifunctional catalyst advances efficient water splitting for hydrogen production and solar energy storage.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Interface engineering enhances electrocatalyst performance through synergistic effects.
- Developing efficient catalysts for water splitting is crucial for renewable energy applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a novel bifunctional catalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
- To investigate the synergistic interface effects between FeOOH and CoO for improved electrocatalytic activity.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of vertically aligned FeOOH/CoO nanoneedle arrays on Ni foam using a simple impregnation method.
- Electrocatalytic performance evaluation for HER and OER in an alkaline medium.
- Testing the catalyst for overall water splitting and solar cell-driven electrolysis.
Main Results:
- The FeOOH/CoO catalyst demonstrated outstanding activity and stability for both HER and OER.
- Achieved a low cell voltage of 1.58 V for overall water splitting at 10 mA cm⁻², outperforming IrO₂//Pt/C.
- Successful application in solar cell-driven water electrolysis.
Conclusions:
- The engineered FeOOH/CoO nanoneedle array exhibits superior bifunctional electrocatalytic performance.
- Synergistic interface effects significantly boost catalytic activity for water splitting.
- The catalyst shows great potential for commercial hydrogen production and solar energy storage.
