Co3O4-FeOOH as a heterojunction electrocatalyst for highly-efficient hydrazine-assisted water electrolysis and pollutant degradation

Liyuan Dai; Yuta Tsuji; Hiroki Iwai; Quan Quan; Dongyuan Song; Xueda Liu; Jiangyang Liu; Takeshi Yanagida; Johnny C. Ho; SenPo Yip

doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2025.165458

Co₃O₄-FeOOH as a heterojunction electrocatalyst for highly-efficient hydrazine-assisted water electrolysis and pollutant degradation

Liyuan Dai
, Yuta Tsuji
, Hiroki Iwai
, Quan Quan
, Dongyuan Song
, Xueda Liu
, Jiangyang Liu
, Takeshi Yanagida
, Johnny C. Ho^*
, SenPo Yip^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

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

Abstract

The hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) offers a promising alternative to mitigate the high energy demands associated with the kinetically sluggish oxygen evolution reaction. Consequently, developing an efficient electrocatalyst for HzOR is crucial. In this study, we present a highly effective Co₃O₄-FeOOH heterojunction designed to enhance hydrazine-assisted water splitting performance. Various characterization techniques were employed to analyze the structures and compositions of the catalyst. Evaluations of its electrocatalytic performance revealed exceptional catalytic activity during hydrazine electrolysis, achieving a current density of 100 mA cm⁻² with a minimal negative potential of −17.2 mV (vs. RHE). The system exhibited impressive stability, maintaining consistent performance for over 100 h during HzOR. Notably, the heterostructure electrocatalyst demonstrated outstanding performance and stability in simulated seawater, requiring only −70 mV (vs.RHE) to deliver a current density of 100 mA cm⁻² and remaining stable after the durability test. The electrocatalyst also performed well in harsh environments, including brine and highly alkaline environments. These findings highlight the potential of the Co₃O₄-FeOOH heterostructure electrocatalyst for energy-efficient hydrogen production and pollutant degradation.

© 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Original language	English
Article number	165458
Number of pages	10
Journal	Applied Surface Science
Volume	721
Online published	2 Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2025.165458
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2026

Funding

We thank Dr. Kohei Kusada and Mr. Daiki Takahashi for helpful discussions. This work was funded by “Network Joint Research Center for Materials and Devices” of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The first author acknowledges the support of the China Scholarship Council (CSC) program. YT acknowledges support from JSPS KAKENHI (JP25K00065) and from JSPS Grants-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A)—“Supra-ceramics” (JP22H05146) and “Machine Learning Physics” (JP25H01541). The computations in this work were performed using the computer facilities at the Research Institute for Information Technology, Kyushu University, at the Supercomputer Center, Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, and at the Cyberscience Center, Tohoku University. This work was also supported through the activities of VDEC, d.lab, The University of Tokyo, in collaboration with NIHON SYNOPSYS G.K.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Research Keywords

Electrocatalyst
Heterojunction
Pollutant degradation
Water electrolysis

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Cite this

@article{2ae96813f2e34e27974b5f8e2a868366,

title = "Co3O4-FeOOH as a heterojunction electrocatalyst for highly-efficient hydrazine-assisted water electrolysis and pollutant degradation",

abstract = "The hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) offers a promising alternative to mitigate the high energy demands associated with the kinetically sluggish oxygen evolution reaction. Consequently, developing an efficient electrocatalyst for HzOR is crucial. In this study, we present a highly effective Co3O4-FeOOH heterojunction designed to enhance hydrazine-assisted water splitting performance. Various characterization techniques were employed to analyze the structures and compositions of the catalyst. Evaluations of its electrocatalytic performance revealed exceptional catalytic activity during hydrazine electrolysis, achieving a current density of 100 mA cm−2 with a minimal negative potential of −17.2 mV (vs. RHE). The system exhibited impressive stability, maintaining consistent performance for over 100 h during HzOR. Notably, the heterostructure electrocatalyst demonstrated outstanding performance and stability in simulated seawater, requiring only −70 mV (vs.RHE) to deliver a current density of 100 mA cm−2 and remaining stable after the durability test. The electrocatalyst also performed well in harsh environments, including brine and highly alkaline environments. These findings highlight the potential of the Co3O4-FeOOH heterostructure electrocatalyst for energy-efficient hydrogen production and pollutant degradation. {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.",

keywords = "Electrocatalyst, Heterojunction, Pollutant degradation, Water electrolysis",

author = "Liyuan Dai and Yuta Tsuji and Hiroki Iwai and Quan Quan and Dongyuan Song and Xueda Liu and Jiangyang Liu and Takeshi Yanagida and Ho, \{Johnny C.\} and SenPo Yip",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.1016/j.apsusc.2025.165458",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Co3O4-FeOOH as a heterojunction electrocatalyst for highly-efficient hydrazine-assisted water electrolysis and pollutant degradation

AU - Dai, Liyuan

AU - Tsuji, Yuta

AU - Iwai, Hiroki

AU - Quan, Quan

AU - Song, Dongyuan

AU - Liu, Xueda

AU - Liu, Jiangyang

AU - Yanagida, Takeshi

AU - Ho, Johnny C.

AU - Yip, SenPo

PY - 2026/3/1

Y1 - 2026/3/1

N2 - The hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) offers a promising alternative to mitigate the high energy demands associated with the kinetically sluggish oxygen evolution reaction. Consequently, developing an efficient electrocatalyst for HzOR is crucial. In this study, we present a highly effective Co3O4-FeOOH heterojunction designed to enhance hydrazine-assisted water splitting performance. Various characterization techniques were employed to analyze the structures and compositions of the catalyst. Evaluations of its electrocatalytic performance revealed exceptional catalytic activity during hydrazine electrolysis, achieving a current density of 100 mA cm−2 with a minimal negative potential of −17.2 mV (vs. RHE). The system exhibited impressive stability, maintaining consistent performance for over 100 h during HzOR. Notably, the heterostructure electrocatalyst demonstrated outstanding performance and stability in simulated seawater, requiring only −70 mV (vs.RHE) to deliver a current density of 100 mA cm−2 and remaining stable after the durability test. The electrocatalyst also performed well in harsh environments, including brine and highly alkaline environments. These findings highlight the potential of the Co3O4-FeOOH heterostructure electrocatalyst for energy-efficient hydrogen production and pollutant degradation. © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

AB - The hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) offers a promising alternative to mitigate the high energy demands associated with the kinetically sluggish oxygen evolution reaction. Consequently, developing an efficient electrocatalyst for HzOR is crucial. In this study, we present a highly effective Co3O4-FeOOH heterojunction designed to enhance hydrazine-assisted water splitting performance. Various characterization techniques were employed to analyze the structures and compositions of the catalyst. Evaluations of its electrocatalytic performance revealed exceptional catalytic activity during hydrazine electrolysis, achieving a current density of 100 mA cm−2 with a minimal negative potential of −17.2 mV (vs. RHE). The system exhibited impressive stability, maintaining consistent performance for over 100 h during HzOR. Notably, the heterostructure electrocatalyst demonstrated outstanding performance and stability in simulated seawater, requiring only −70 mV (vs.RHE) to deliver a current density of 100 mA cm−2 and remaining stable after the durability test. The electrocatalyst also performed well in harsh environments, including brine and highly alkaline environments. These findings highlight the potential of the Co3O4-FeOOH heterostructure electrocatalyst for energy-efficient hydrogen production and pollutant degradation. © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

KW - Electrocatalyst

KW - Heterojunction

KW - Pollutant degradation

KW - Water electrolysis

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