EXCELLENT ELECTROCATALYSIS OF OXYGEN EVOLUTION USING Co(OH)x(WO4)y/MESOPOROUS CARBON NANOCOMPOSITES

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of great importance in splitting water. However, the sluggish OER kinetics at the anode severely hinders the H 2 evolution at the cathode which is a crucial procedure for energy storage. Herein, we report the synthesis of a new OER catalyst of Co(OH) x (WO[Formula: see text] via a one-step hydrothermal method, where the incorporation of WO[Formula: see text] as a condenser greatly enhanced the electrocatalytic activity of Co(OH) 2 toward OER. Moreover, the introduction of mesoporous carbon (MC) further improves the electrocatalytic performance of Co(OH) x (WO[Formula: see text] by forming the nanocomposites of Co(OH) x (WO[Formula: see text]/MC. The synergism between Co(OH) 2 and WO[Formula: see text] and the synergistic catalytic effect of Co(OH) x (WO[Formula: see text] and MC majorly contributed to the apparently enhanced electrocatalysis of Co(OH) x (WO[Formula: see text]/MC toward OER. This work provides an efficient strategy to improve the electrocatalytic activity of Co(OH) 2 by introducing WO[Formula: see text] and forming nanocomposites between Co(OH) x (WO[Formula: see text] and MC for low-cost, convenient and highly efficient water oxidation.