ZIF-67 derived Co3O4/CoFe-LDH with strongly coupled interfacial junction as an enhanced electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

초록

Development of renewable and clean energy production has become an urgent issue owing to the increasing concerns about depletion of fossil fuels and environmental crisis. Producing hydrogen using water electrolysis is regarded as promising strategy for solving the problem owing to its environmental friendliness and high energy density of H. However, the sluggish kinetics and large overpotential of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode remains a bottleneck in water electrolysis. Until now, noble metal-based oxides, such as Ir/Ru based oxides, are generally used as state-of-the-art electrocatalysts for OER. Unfortunately, their scarcity, high cost and low durability during long-term operation have seriously hindered the large-scale applications of water electrolysis system. Accordingly, development of earth-abundant electrocatalysts with high activity and stability is essential to substitute the expensive electrocatalysts for water electrolysis. Spinel-structured cobalt oxide (Co3O4), which is constructed by combination of Co2+ and Co3+, is one of the promising electrocatalysts for OER due to rich redox properties and high corrosion resistance. Also, the bimetallic layered double hydroxide (LDH) structure is generally known as highly efficient electrocatalyst owing to its large surface area and flexible open structure.