Carbon nanodots modified cobalt phosphate as efficient electrocatalyst for water oxidation

High-activity and low-cost water oxidation electrocatalyst is of fundamental importance for the development of green energy technologies. Here, we demonstrated the carbon nanodots (phosphate functionalized carbon nanodots, PCDs) modified cobalt phosphate (CoPi) composite (CoPi/PCDs) could be served as high-efficiency oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst in both neutral and alkaline conditions with low onset potential and high current density. This kind of improvement activity of CoPi/PCDs composite for OER may be attributed to the synergistic catalytic effect of CoPi and PCDs. In addition, the PCDs layer on the CoPi surface averted the CoPi from dissolution of enhancing the stability of the composite electrocatalyst.

We reported a facile approach for the fabrication of CoPi/PCDs composite as an efficient catalyst for water oxidation. The high OER activity in neutral phosphate electrolyte was distinctly observed from the reduced onset potential, increased current density, small Tafel slope, and enhanced stability. It might be attributed to the interaction between CoPi and PCDs and the protection of the PCDs covering layer on the CoPi surface.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide