In situ Cobalt–Cobalt Oxide/N-Doped Carbon Hybrids As Superior Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution

Remarkable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) or superior oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst has been applied in water splitting, however, utilizing a bifunctional catalyst for simultaneously generating H2 and O2 is still a challenging issue, which is crucial for improving the overall efficiency of water electrolysis. Herein, inspired by the superiority of carbon conductivity, the propitious H atom binding energy of metallic cobalt, and better OER activity of cobalt oxide, we synthesized cobalt-cobalt oxide/N-doped carbon hybrids (CoOx@CN) composed of Co(0), CoO, Co3O4 applied to HER and OER by simple one-pot thermal treatment method. CoOx@CN exhibited a small onset potential of 85 mV, low charge-transfer…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 21376208, J1210042
• MO
  Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China

  Award: J20130060
• M
  Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province

  Award: LR13B030001