Nanostructured copper-cobalt based spinel for the electrocatalytic H2O2 reduction reaction

Nanostructured copper-cobalt based spinel [(Cu0.30Co0.70)Co2O4] was employed as an electrocatalyst in the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reduction reaction (HRR). Both nanoparticles and nanoneedles co-existed in the (Cu0.30Co0.70)Co2O4 spinel, which exhibited a high intrinsic electrical conductivity and surface-to-volume ratio, resulting therefore in a large electrochemically active surface area for the HRR. In addition, (Cu0.30Co0.70)Co2O4 showed an onset potential at approximately −0.14 V in the HRR, with a limiting current density of ∼104 mA/cm2 at −0.43 V. The synthesised material followed the direct HRR pathway and exhibited good stability. In addition, the HRR activity of (Cu0.30Co0.70)Co2O4 was comparable to that of commercial Pt/C electrodes. The present results therefore demonstrate the significant potential of (Cu0.30Co0.70)Co2O4 for future applications in fuel cells as a cathode catalyst.