Co(OH)₂ Nanosheets Supported on Laser Ablated Cu Foam: An Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalyst

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Non-noble metal electrocatalysts are crucial for efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
• Research has primarily focused on catalyst material development, neglecting substrate modification for enhanced performance.
• Developing cost-effective and highly active OER electrocatalysts remains a significant challenge for energy applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore a novel strategy for OER electrocatalyst fabrication by modifying the substrate.
• To investigate the impact of laser-ablated micro/nano-structured copper foam substrates on cobalt hydroxide catalyst performance.
• To develop a highly efficient and durable non-noble metal based OER electrocatalyst.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of micro/nano-structured copper (Cu) foam substrates using laser ablation.
• Growth of cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2) on the laser-fabricated Cu foams via precipitation conversion.
• Electrochemical characterization of the Cu/Cu oxides/Co(OH)2 electrocatalysts for OER activity and durability in 1 M KOH.

Main Results:

• The laser-fabricated Cu foams exhibited rich micro/nano-structures and superhydrophilicity.
• The resulting Cu/Cu oxides/Co(OH)2 electrocatalysts showed high OER activity, with an overpotential of 259 mV at 50 mA cm-2.
• The electrocatalysts demonstrated excellent mild-term durability, attributed to increased surface area and active sites.

Conclusions:

• Laser ablation is an effective method for creating structured substrates that enhance OER electrocatalyst performance.
• The synergistic effect between the structured substrate and cobalt hydroxide leads to improved catalytic activity and durability.
• This approach offers a promising pathway for developing low-cost, high-performance electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction.