Enhanced electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide by Co₃O₄ nanowire electrode

Crystalline Co₃O₄ nanowire arrays with different morphologies grown on Ni foam were investigated by varying the reaction temperature, the concentration of precursors, and reaction time. The Co₃O₄ nanowires synthesized under typical reaction condition had a diameter range of approximately 500-900 nm with a length of 17 μm. Electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) of the optimized Co₃O₄ nanowire electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry. A high current density of 101.8 mA cm^-2 was obtained at -0.4 V in a solution of 0.4 M H₂O₂ and 3.0 M NaOH at room temperature compared to 85.8 mA cm^-2 at -0.35 V of the Co₃O₄ nanoparticle electrode. Results clearly indicated that the Ni foam supported Co₃O₄ nanowire electrode exhibited superior catalytic activity and mass transport kinetics for H₂O₂ electrochemical reduction.