Microwave-assisted synthesized Co-doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles for superior electrocatalytic water splitting

The inherent catalytic efficiency of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs) for water splitting is unsatisfactory owing to its limited electronic conductivity and inadequate active sites necessary for both oxygen and hydrogen evolution processes (OER and HER). These issues have prompted the investigation of diverse approaches for Fe₃O₄ NPs, including doping with transition metals. Herein, the Co-doped Fe₃O₄ NPs were loaded on Ni-foam using a microwave-assisted method, and characterized by various analytical techniques. The electrochemical investigations demonstrated that Co-doped Fe₃O₄ NPs exhibit exceptional OER and HER performance, with minimal overpotentials of 146 mV and 210 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm², in contrast to Fe₃O₄ NPs, which showed overpotentials of 278 mV and 245 mV at the same current density. Theoretical investigations indicated that Co-doping substantially altered the electronic structure and optimised the active sites of Fe₃O₄ NPs, hence enhancing overall catalytic efficiency. This study presents an innovative approach for the synthesis of highly efficient, economical electrocatalysts for water splitting, with potential applications in clean energy generation and sustainable hydrogen production.