Tungsten, copper and cobalt-single metal atom oxides embedded CeO2-MnO2-rGO nanorods as electrocatalysts for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Background: An important aspect of energy conversion and storage technology is primarily based on the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution process (OER). Method: Here, we present the newly designed synthesis of an improved variety of WCuCo-CeO2-MnO2-R-3 nanocomposites, to enhance OER by incorporating the reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and SMAO of W, Cu, and Co with the nanorods of CeO2-MnO2 materials. Interestingly, the higher density of SMAO (W, Cu, and Co), atomic utilization and electron transfer layer of rGO influenced the CeO2-MnO2 nanorods with remarkably superior electrocatalytic OER activity. Significant findings: This makes WCuCo-CeO2-MnO2-R-3 achieve 10 mA cm-2 with an overpotential of 275 mV and a lower Tafel slop of 64.46 mV dec-1. The higher number of SMAO (W, Cu, and Co) species close to the catalyst surface served as potential active sites assembly to enhance the OER activity by improving the chemical and electrochemical steps during the OER process. The chronoamperometry test revealed that the WCuCo-CeO2MnO2-R-3 nanocomposite is not degrade in a 1 M KOH solution for 24 h, and it is stable up to 2000 CV cycles. In order to create very effective catalysts for OER, the DFT theoretical results shed light on the connection between the catalytic characteristics of metal oxide structures and their inherent electronic configuration.