Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-17-2024

Abstract

Cobalt-based electrocatalysts have garnered significant interest for their potential in water splitting applications. However, their limited functionality, subpar performance, and sensitivity to electrolyte pH levels have hindered their further advancement. In this study, we explored morphological and interfacial modifications of cobalt nanoparticles by incorporating carbon dots (CDs). Specifically, we synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon-encapsulated cobalt nanoparticles (N−C@Co NPs) in situ, aiming for superior performance in electrocatalytic water splitting. These N−C@Co NPs exhibited remarkable hydrogen evolution performance in both acidic and alkaline environments, with overpotentials of 137 mV and 134 mV at 10 mA/cm2, respectively. Additionally, they demonstrated excellent oxygen evolution performance in alkaline media, with an overpotential of 353 mV at 10 mA·cm­­­-2. These achievements surpass those of many previously reported cobalt-based electrocatalysts and are comparable to several outstanding nonprecious metal-based electrocatalysts. We observed that CDs play a significant role in shaping the catalyst morphology and bonding structure between N−C and Co NPs, revealing synergistic effects for water splitting. Furthermore, we validated this approach by enhancing oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities using CDs-decorated cobaltic oxide nanoparticles (CDs@Co3O4NPs), showing an overpotential of 304 mV at 10 mA/cm2. This study presents a promising approach for synthesizing stable metal-based carbon hybrids with high-performance photo/electrocatalytic activities.

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