Fe doped CoO/C nanofibers towards efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Rational design of highly efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential to construct high-performance energy devices. In this study, we have developed an electrospinning, in situ polymerization and carbonization process to fabricate Fe doped CoO/C (Fe-CoO/C) nanofibers as efficient OER electrocatalysts. In the synthesized Fe-CoO/C nanofibers, ultrathin carbon layer can be used as conducive network to promote electron transfer and thus improve the electrocatalytic activity. At the same time, additional active sites, like bridged site, formed by Fe doping, also provides the catalyst excellent electrochemical activity in OER. The as-prepared Fe-CoO/C nanofibers exhibit an excellent OER activity with an overpotential of 362 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm(-2) in an alkaline medium, which is comparable with the commercial RuO2 catalyst. After 2500 cyclic voltammograms (CVs) cycles test, the catalyst still maintains the initial electrocatalytic activity, demonstrating a great durability. This strategy introduces both carbon layer and Fe doping to increase the conductivity and the density of active sites of CoO nanofibers, thus enhancing the electrocatalytic activity and stability. This work offers an efficient route to develop low-cost and highly active transitional metal oxide-based OER electrocatalyst for potential renewable electrochemical energy conversion and storage.