Co doping of worm-like Cu2S: An efficient and durable heterogeneous electrocatalyst for alkaline water oxidation

Highly efficient water oxidation electrocatalyst plays an important role in many renewable oxygen-based electrochemical technologies like fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and water splitting devices. In this communication, we report the in-situ hydrothermal sulfidization preparation of a Co doped worm-like Cu2S directly grown on copper foam (Co-Cu2S/CF) and further application as an efficient and stable electrocatalyst for alkaline water oxidation. In 1.0 M KOH, it needs overpotentials as low as 298 and 357 mV to afford 20 and 50 mA cm−2, respectively, comparing favourably to pure Cu2S counterpart (Cu2S/CF) and most Cu based catalysts in alkaline media. Notably, it is also durable with high turnover frequency values of 0.137 and 0.473 mol O2 s−1 at overpotentials of 400 and 500 mV, respectively.