Synthesis and Electrochemical Study of Cobalt Based Nanostructured Catalysts for Energy Applications

Abstract

The development of efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is an enduring challenge toward the commercialization of electrochemical technologies such as water electrolysis and solar to fuel production. Although noble metal based electrode materials (e.g., Pt, IrO2, and RuO2 etc.) are active catalysts for the OER, their cost-effectiveness, scarcity and long-term stability have hindered the development of electrochemical commercial applications. In addition, there is a great interest in the design of cost-effective and efficient catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for the creation of clean energy technologies. In this presentation, we will report on the synthesis of one-dimensional Co3O4 nanorods, two-dimensional nanosheets, and three-dimensional nanocubes. The formed 1D, 2D, and 3D Co3O4 were systematically probed using a structure sensitive electrochemical OER, revealing that the 2D nanosheets exhibited higher catalytic activities in contrast to the 1D and 3D Co3O4, due to its high electrochemically active surface area and rich oxygen deficiencies. In addition, nanostructured nickel cobalt metal oxides with different composition were synthesized and studied for oxygen reduction. The effect of the composition, morphology, and active sites of the formed cobalt based nanomaterials on their catalytic activity will be discussed.