Engineering surface atomic structure of single-crystal cobalt (II) oxide nanorods for superior electrocatalysis

Engineering the surface structure at the atomic level can be used to precisely and effectively manipulate the reactivity and durability of catalysts. Here we report tuning of the atomic structure of one-dimensional single-crystal cobalt (II) oxide (CoO) nanorods by creating oxygen vacancies on pyramidal nanofacets. These CoO nanorods exhibit superior catalytic activity and durability towards oxygen reduction/evolution reactions. The combined experimental studies, microscopic and spectroscopic characterization, and density functional theory calculations reveal that the origins of the electrochemical activity of single-crystal CoO nanorods are in the oxygen vacancies that can be readily created on the…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 51471115, 21576202, 51571149, 21203099
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin City

  Awards: 15JCYBJC18200, 13JCYBJC36800
• AR
  Australian Research Council

  Awards: DP160104866, DP140104062, DP130104459
• NK
  National Key Research and Development Program of China

  Award: 2014CB931703
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China-Guangdong Joint Fund