Successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) -driven cobalt oxide integration on pencil graphite for...

Sustainable energy conversion depends on the development of effective and economical electrocatalysts. In this work, we highlight the development of cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) as an electrocatalyst by employing a scalable and economical Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method onto an electrically activated pencil graphite (Ac-PGE) as an affordable substrate for monitoring the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). According to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the SILAR process produced uniform deposition and improved surface activation, which resulted in a considerably reduced charge transfer resistance (R _ct) of 0.08 kΩ. The OER overpotential was observed at 240 mV at 10 mA cm^-2 with a Tafel slope of 47.57 mV dec^-1, and a turnover frequency of 0.082 s^-1 at the activated electrode. LSV and OCP demonstrate that Co₃O₄@Ac-PGE performs better electrochemically than the other electrodes under investigation (In-PGE, Ac-PGE, and Co₃O₄@In-PGE). Additionally, after 8 hours, it maintained more than 93% of its initial activity, demonstrating exceptional endurance. Overall, it was observed that the Co₃O₄@Ac-PGE electrode developed by the SILAR method outperforms a number of traditional and noble-metal-based catalysts and offers a practical, long-lasting, and financially sustainable approach to effective water-splitting and renewable energy conversion. The structural and surface properties of the modified electrodes were investigated using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This work shows a scalable and cost-effective strategy to design an efficient electrocatalyst by using SILAR for OER, which can contribute towards Green Hydrogen production.