CoFex-CoFe2O4/N-doped carbon nanocomposite derived from in situ pyrolysis of a single source precursor as a superior bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting

Hui Zhuang; Ye Xie; Huaqiang Tan; Yuanfu Deng; Yingwei Li; Guohua Chen

doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2018.01.008

CoFe_x-CoFe₂O₄/N-doped carbon nanocomposite derived from in situ pyrolysis of a single source precursor as a superior bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting

Hui Zhuang, Ye Xie, Huaqiang Tan, Yuanfu Deng^*, Yingwei Li, Guohua Chen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Application of a bifunctional electrocatalyst for simultaneously producing H₂ and O₂ is still a great challenge, which is important for the enhancement of the overall efficiency of water electrolysis. Taking advantages of the superior conductivity of N-doped graphite carbon, the good electrocatalytic performance of Co-based alloys for HER and excellent performance of cobalt-based oxide for OER, herein, we prepare a CoFe_x-CoFe₂O₄/N-doped carbon nanocomposite with a hierarchical porous structure used to HER and OER by pyrolysis of a new single source precursor {[Co(H₂O)₆][Fe(Hedta)Cl]₂·4H₂O]}. CoFe_x-CoFe₂O₄/N-doped carbon displays high activity with small overpotentials of respective 159 and 257 mV required to achieve a current density of 20 mA cm⁻² as well as catalytic durability for HER and OER in 1.0 M KOH. Furthermore, this bifunctional electrocatalyst enables an alkaline electrolyzer with 20 mA cm⁻² at a cell voltage of ∼1.68 V. The good performance of CF-CFO/NC for HER and OER can be attributed to the low charge transfer impedance, a porous structure and the synergistic role of cobalt-based alloy and cobalt-based mixed metal oxide. This work may provide a new approach to prepare an efficient, cost-effective and superior electrocatalyst in large scale using earth-abundant elements.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	18-26
Journal	Electrochimica Acta
Volume	262
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2018.01.008
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2018
Externally published	Yes

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Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

Research Keywords

Bifunctional electrocatalyst
Low overpotential
N-doped graphite carbon
Single source precursor
Water splitting

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@article{e4cab36dced04f47a8e940f2c356ca8b,

title = "CoFex-CoFe2O4/N-doped carbon nanocomposite derived from in situ pyrolysis of a single source precursor as a superior bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting",

abstract = "Application of a bifunctional electrocatalyst for simultaneously producing H2 and O2 is still a great challenge, which is important for the enhancement of the overall efficiency of water electrolysis. Taking advantages of the superior conductivity of N-doped graphite carbon, the good electrocatalytic performance of Co-based alloys for HER and excellent performance of cobalt-based oxide for OER, herein, we prepare a CoFex-CoFe2O4/N-doped carbon nanocomposite with a hierarchical porous structure used to HER and OER by pyrolysis of a new single source precursor {[Co(H2O)6][Fe(Hedta)Cl]2·4H2O]}. CoFex-CoFe2O4/N-doped carbon displays high activity with small overpotentials of respective 159 and 257 mV required to achieve a current density of 20 mA cm−2 as well as catalytic durability for HER and OER in 1.0 M KOH. Furthermore, this bifunctional electrocatalyst enables an alkaline electrolyzer with 20 mA cm−2 at a cell voltage of ∼1.68 V. The good performance of CF-CFO/NC for HER and OER can be attributed to the low charge transfer impedance, a porous structure and the synergistic role of cobalt-based alloy and cobalt-based mixed metal oxide. This work may provide a new approach to prepare an efficient, cost-effective and superior electrocatalyst in large scale using earth-abundant elements.",

keywords = "Bifunctional electrocatalyst, Low overpotential, N-doped graphite carbon, Single source precursor, Water splitting",

author = "Hui Zhuang and Ye Xie and Huaqiang Tan and Yuanfu Deng and Yingwei Li and Guohua Chen",

note = "Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].",

year = "2018",

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day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.electacta.2018.01.008",

language = "English",

volume = "262",

pages = "18--26",

journal = "Electrochimica Acta",

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CoFe_x-CoFe₂O₄/N-doped carbon nanocomposite derived from in situ pyrolysis of a single source precursor as a superior bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting. / Zhuang, Hui; Xie, Ye; Tan, Huaqiang et al.
In: Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 262, 01.02.2018, p. 18-26.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - CoFex-CoFe2O4/N-doped carbon nanocomposite derived from in situ pyrolysis of a single source precursor as a superior bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting

AU - Zhuang, Hui

AU - Xie, Ye

AU - Tan, Huaqiang

AU - Deng, Yuanfu

AU - Li, Yingwei

AU - Chen, Guohua

N1 - Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

PY - 2018/2/1

Y1 - 2018/2/1

N2 - Application of a bifunctional electrocatalyst for simultaneously producing H2 and O2 is still a great challenge, which is important for the enhancement of the overall efficiency of water electrolysis. Taking advantages of the superior conductivity of N-doped graphite carbon, the good electrocatalytic performance of Co-based alloys for HER and excellent performance of cobalt-based oxide for OER, herein, we prepare a CoFex-CoFe2O4/N-doped carbon nanocomposite with a hierarchical porous structure used to HER and OER by pyrolysis of a new single source precursor {[Co(H2O)6][Fe(Hedta)Cl]2·4H2O]}. CoFex-CoFe2O4/N-doped carbon displays high activity with small overpotentials of respective 159 and 257 mV required to achieve a current density of 20 mA cm−2 as well as catalytic durability for HER and OER in 1.0 M KOH. Furthermore, this bifunctional electrocatalyst enables an alkaline electrolyzer with 20 mA cm−2 at a cell voltage of ∼1.68 V. The good performance of CF-CFO/NC for HER and OER can be attributed to the low charge transfer impedance, a porous structure and the synergistic role of cobalt-based alloy and cobalt-based mixed metal oxide. This work may provide a new approach to prepare an efficient, cost-effective and superior electrocatalyst in large scale using earth-abundant elements.

AB - Application of a bifunctional electrocatalyst for simultaneously producing H2 and O2 is still a great challenge, which is important for the enhancement of the overall efficiency of water electrolysis. Taking advantages of the superior conductivity of N-doped graphite carbon, the good electrocatalytic performance of Co-based alloys for HER and excellent performance of cobalt-based oxide for OER, herein, we prepare a CoFex-CoFe2O4/N-doped carbon nanocomposite with a hierarchical porous structure used to HER and OER by pyrolysis of a new single source precursor {[Co(H2O)6][Fe(Hedta)Cl]2·4H2O]}. CoFex-CoFe2O4/N-doped carbon displays high activity with small overpotentials of respective 159 and 257 mV required to achieve a current density of 20 mA cm−2 as well as catalytic durability for HER and OER in 1.0 M KOH. Furthermore, this bifunctional electrocatalyst enables an alkaline electrolyzer with 20 mA cm−2 at a cell voltage of ∼1.68 V. The good performance of CF-CFO/NC for HER and OER can be attributed to the low charge transfer impedance, a porous structure and the synergistic role of cobalt-based alloy and cobalt-based mixed metal oxide. This work may provide a new approach to prepare an efficient, cost-effective and superior electrocatalyst in large scale using earth-abundant elements.

KW - Bifunctional electrocatalyst

KW - Low overpotential

KW - N-doped graphite carbon

KW - Single source precursor

KW - Water splitting

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U2 - 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.01.008

DO - 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.01.008

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0013-4686

VL - 262

SP - 18

EP - 26

JO - Electrochimica Acta

JF - Electrochimica Acta

ER -