Spontaneously separated intermetallic Co3Mo from nanoporous copper as versatile electrocatalysts for highly efficient water splitting

Developing robust nonprecious electrocatalysts towards hydrogen/oxygen evolution reactions is crucial for widespread use of electrochemical water splitting in hydrogen production. Here, we report that intermetallic Co3Mo spontaneously separated from hierarchical nanoporous copper skeleton shows genuine potential as highly efficient electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen/oxygen evolution reactions in virtue of in-situ hydroxylation and electro-oxidation, respectively. The hydroxylated intermetallic Co3Mo has an optimal hydrogen-binding energy to facilitate adsorption/desorption of hydrogen intermediates for hydrogen molecules. Associated with high electron/ion transport of bicontinuous nanoporous skeleton, nanoporous copper supported Co3Mo electrodes exhibit impressive hydrogen evolution reaction catalysis, with negligible onset overpotential and low Tafel slope (similar to 40mV dec(-1)) in 1M KOH, realizing current density of -400mAcm(-2) at overpotential of as low as 96mV. When coupled to its electro-oxidized derivative that mediates efficiently oxygen evolution reaction, their alkaline electrolyzer operates with a superior overall water-splitting output, outperforming the one assembled with noble-metal-based catalysts. Electrochemical water splitting is an attractive energy conversion technology, but it usually suffers from low efficiency. Here, the authors report intermetallic Co3Mo integrated on porous Cu as highly efficient electrocatalysts for alkaline HER/OER due to in-situ hydroxylation and electro-oxidation.