Preparation of nanostructured mesoporous NiCo2O4 and its electrocatalytic activities for water oxidation

Nanostructured mesoporous NiCo2O4, Co3O4 and NiO spinel oxides were prepared through the hydroxide coprecipitation method using EG (ethylene glycol) as solvent without any template. The NiCo2O4 powders were analyzed by TGA, XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, SEM and EDS. And the electrocatalytic properties of NiCo2O4/Ti, Co3O4/Ti and NiO/Ti electrodes for oxygen evolution in 0.1 mol/L KOH (pH = 13) were tested by cyclic voltammetry, Tafel curves and electrolysis. The result shows that NiCo2O4/Ti electrode has higher electrocatalytic activity in oxygen evolution reaction than Co3O4/Ti and NiO/Ti electrodes. NiCo2O4/Ti electrode prepared at 350 °C has the highest apparent current density and the highest true current density. The Tafel slope of NiCo2O4/Ti electrode prepared at 350 °C is 68.49 mV/dec.

Nanostructured mesoporous NiCo2O4 powder was successfully prepared by coprecipitation at 350 °C and evaluated as the OER electrocatalyst. The NiCo2O4/Ti electrode has high activity in alkaline water electrolysis after 5.56 h.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide