Liquid-Crystal-Mediated 3D Macrostructured Composite of Co/Co3O4 Embedded in Graphene: Free-Standing Electrode for Efficient Water Splitting

Authors

Md. Monirul Islam, University of WollongongFollow
Shaikh Nayeem Faisal, University of Sydney
Taslima Akhter, University of Wollongong
Anup Kumar Roy, University of Sydney
Andrew I. Minett, University of SydneyFollow
Konstantin K. Konstantinov, University of WollongongFollow
Shi Xue Dou, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

112747

Publication Details

Islam, M., Faisal, S., Akhter, T., Roy, A., Minett, A. I., Konstantinov, K. & Dou, S. Xue. (2017). Liquid-Crystal-Mediated 3D Macrostructured Composite of Co/Co3O4 Embedded in Graphene: Free-Standing Electrode for Efficient Water Splitting. Particle and Particle Systems Characterization, 34 (9), 1600386-1-1600386-6.

Abstract

A free-standing, 3D, macro/microstructured atomic-cobalt/cobalt-oxide-reduced-graphene-oxide (Co/Co3O4-Gr) composite has been developed for complete water splitting. The self-assembled porous morphology associated with the metal/metal oxide active sites makes the whole surface of the electrode conducive toward catalyzing hydrogen and oxygen evolution in alkaline media at a low onset potential. The liquid-crystal-mediated free-standing electrocatalyst shows oxygen evolution at the onset potential of 1.38 V and at the potential of 1.66 V for a current density of 10 mA cm−2. These potentials are comparable to the corresponding values for Ru/C (1.46 and 1.62 V, respectively). In addition, the promising hydrogen evolution performance of our composite compared to Pt/C in alkaline media makes it an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for comprehensive water splitting, as well as provides guidance for future electrochemical energy material technologies.

Grant Number

ARC/LE0237478