Electrocatalysis of oxygen evolution at stainless steel anodes by electrosynthesized cobalt hydroxide coatings

Controlled growth of cobalt hydroxide coatings (1-2 mum thick) on stainless steel electrodes was achieved by electrogeneration of base by cathodic reduction of aqueous cobalt nitrate solutions. These coatings catalyse the oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline medium (1 M KOH) by as much as 100 mV, making cobalt hydroxide a candidate catalyst for these applications.