Size-Controlled Cobalt Nanoplates and Their Impact on Oxygen Evolution Catalysis

Controlling the size of nanoparticles is important in catalytic reactions, not only for tuning the surface area but also for modifying the electronic structure. However, achieving precise size control in 2D structures remains challenging. In this work, we demonstrate precise size control of cobalt nanoplates, ranging from 19 nm to 80 nm, which is achieved by tuning the ratio of two surfactants used in the synthesis. The 19 nm of Co nanoplates exhibit higher oxygen evolution reaction activity due to a higher proportion of {10 $\overline{1}$ 1} to {0001} facets. This size control allows systematic investigation into how nanoplate dimensions influence catalytic performance in the oxygen evolution reaction, offering new insights into structure-activity relationships of cobalt nanocatalysts.