Promoting urea oxidation and water oxidation through interface construction on a CeO₂@CoFe₂O₄ heterostructure

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Spinel ferrites are effective electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and urea oxidation reaction (UOR).
• Enhancing spinel ferrite performance requires modification with other functional materials.
• Cerium dioxide (CeO2) is a functional metal oxide with potential catalytic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel CeO2-modified spinel ferrite nanostructure for improved OER and UOR electrocatalytic activity.
• To investigate the electrocatalytic performance of the CeO2@CoFe2O4/NF hybrid nanostructure in an alkaline medium.
• To explore the potential of Earth-abundant materials for robust and environmentally friendly electrocatalysis.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal synthesis and calcination methods were employed to create the CeO2@CoFe2O4/NF hybrid nanostructure.
• Electrochemical performance for OER and UOR was evaluated in a 1.0 M KOH alkaline medium.
• Catalyst durability was assessed at high current densities.

Main Results:

• The CeO2@CoFe2O4/NF catalyst exhibited superior OER activity, requiring an overpotential of 213 mV for 100 mA cm-2.
• The material demonstrated excellent UOR activity, needing a potential of 1.40 V at 100 mA cm-2 in 1.0 M KOH with 0.5 M urea.
• The catalyst showed remarkable durability, with negligible performance decay at 125 mA cm-2.

Conclusions:

• The CeO2@CoFe2O4/NF hybrid nanostructure is a highly active and durable electrocatalyst for both OER and UOR.
• Enhanced catalytic performance is attributed to increased active sites and improved electron transfer rates.
• This work presents a novel strategy for developing efficient, Earth-abundant, and eco-friendly electrocatalysts.