An amorphous Co-carbonate-hydroxide nanowire array for efficient and durable oxygen evolution reaction in carbonate electrolytes

The development of earth-abundant catalysts toward high-efficient and durable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electro-catalysis in the carbonate electrolyte is in great demand but remains a huge challenge. In this communication, we describe the development of a Co-carbonate-hydroxide nanowire array on nickel foam (CoCH/NF) via in situ electrochemical conversion of the Co(CO3)(0.5)(OH)center dot 0.11H(2)O nanowire array. When utilized as a 3D catalyst electrode for the OER in 1.0 M KHCO3 (pH: 8.3), as-formed CoCH/NF demands overpotential of only 332 mV to drive a geometrical catalytic current density of 10 mA cm(-2), with its catalytic activity being maintained for at least 130 h. Impressively, it also demonstrates a high turnover frequency value of 0.22 mol O-2 s(-1) at an overpotential of 500 mV.