Self‐Templating Synthesis of Hollow Co3O4 Microtube Arrays for Highly Efficient Water Electrolysis

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 56; no. 5; pp. 1324 - 1328
• Main Authors: Zhu, Yun Pei, Ma, Tian Yi, Jaroniec, Mietek, Qiao, Shi Zhang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 24.01.2017
• Edition: International ed. in English
• Subjects: cobalt; electrocatalysis; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Electrolysis; Electron mobility; Fabrication; Hydrogen evolution reactions; Mass transfer; microtubes; Platinum; Porosity; Splitting; Synthesis; template synthesis; Water splitting
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201610413
• ISSN: 1433-7851

In spite of recent advances in the synthesis of hollow micro/nanostructures, the fabrication of three‐dimensional electrodes on the basis of these structures remains a major challenge. Herein, we develop an electrochemical sacrificial‐template strategy to fabricate hollow Co3O4 microtube arrays with hierarchical porosity. The resultant unique structures and integrated electrode configurations impart enhanced mass transfer and electron mobility, ensuring high activity and stability in catalyzing oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions. Impressively, the apparent performance can rival that of state‐of‐the‐art noble‐metal and transition‐metal electrocatalysts. Furthermore, this bifunctional electrode can be used for highly efficient overall water splitting, even competing with the integrated performance of Pt/C and IrO2/C. Hollow and hierarchical: An electrochemical self‐templating strategy was developed for the fabrication of hollow Co3O4 microtube arrays with hierarchical porosity. The resultant structures showed excellent electrocatalytic activity and durability towards oxygen and hydrogen evolution and are thus capable of catalyzing full water splitting.