Self-supported porous Cobalt Oxide Nanowires with enhanced Electrocatalytic performance toward Oxygen evolution reaction

Development of hybrid electrocatalysts with high activity and good stability is crucial for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of water electrocatalysis. In this work, cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanowires loaded on carbon fiber paper (CFP) were synthesized via hydrothermal method and annealing. The as-synthesized Co3O4 nanowires exhibit an enhanced catalytic activity with low onset overpotential (1.52 V vs. RHE) and a small overpotential of 330 mV for a current density of 10 mA cm−2 with a Tafel slope of 60 mV ⋅ dec−1. In addition, the Co3O4 nanowires maintain its electrocatalytic activity for at least 24 h in basic media. The enhanced performance of Co3O4 nanowires/CFP can be attributed to the high conductivity of CFP, the synergistic effect of Co3O4 and carbon, and high porosity of the nanowire. This study will open new possibilities for exploring water electrocatalysis.