Two-Dimensional Earth-Abundant Transition Metal Oxides Nanomaterials: Synthesis and Application in Electrochemical...

Development of a universal synthetic strategy for two-dimensional (2D) Earth-abundant transition metal oxides nanomaterials is highly vital toward numerous electrochemical applications. Herein, a facile and general synthesis of highly ordered two-dimensional metal oxides nanomaterials includes Co₃O₄, NiO, CuO, and Fe₃O₄ nanosheets as an electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is demonstrated. Among the synthesized 2D transition metal oxides, the Co₃O₄ nanosheet exhibits smallest overpotential (η) of ∼384.0 mV at a current density of 10.0 mA cm^-2 and Tafel slope of ∼52.0 mV dec^-1, highest mass activity of ∼112.3 A g^-1 at the overpotential of ∼384.0 mV, and high turn over frequency (TOF) of 0.099 s^-1, which is relatively favorable with state-of-the-art RuO₂ catalyst. The present synthetic approach may unlock a brand new pathway to prepare shape-controlled Earth-abundant transition metal oxides nanomaterials for electrocatalytic OER.