Defect-rich Fe-doped Co3O4 derived from bimetallic-organic framework as an enhanced electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

Herein, oxygen-deficient Fe-doped Co3O4 polyhedral nanoparticles derived from FeCo-based bimetal-organic frameworks are prepared for the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) via a facile self-templating strategy. A well-defined rhombic dodecahedral structure with abundant oxygen vacancies was constructed based on the coprecipitation, carbonization, oxidation, and partial reduction process. The proposed synthetic method is effective for fabricating a bimetallic hierarchical structure with a rough surface and a moderately controlled electronic structure, which significantly facilitates charge and mass transfer and appropriately exposes the active sites for efficient electrocatalysis. Subsequently, the as-obtained defect-rich Fe-doped Co3O4 nanoparticles was found to be a superior OER electrocatalyst, with a small overpotential of 318 mV required for a current density of 10 mA cm(-2), a low Tafel slope of 76.8 mV dec(-1), a turnover frequency of 0.1553 s(-1) at an overpotential of 370 mV, and outstanding long-term durability in 1.0 M KOH. The proposed strategy will offer a new approach in the design and development of electrochemically active non-noble materials as advanced catalysts for various energy storage and conversion applications.

Automated summary

Oxygen-deficient Fe-doped Co3O4 polyhedral nanoparticles were successfully synthesized for efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction through a self-templating strategy. The defect-rich nanoparticles demonstrated superior OER performance, with low overpotential, Tafel slope, and excellent long-term durability in alkaline conditions. This approach provides a new direction for designing advanced non-noble catalysts for energy storage and conversion applications.