CoCu-hydroxyquinoline loaded on copper foam as effective pre-catalytic electrode for oxygen evolution

•An effective pre-catalytic electrode composed of CoCu hydroxyquinoline salts was prepared.•The pre-catalytic electrode will be activated during the electrochemical process.•The in situ formed CuO/COOOH would act as the catalytic active phase.•The optimized electrode can afford 20 mA cm−2 with overpotential of 282 mV in 1 M KOH.•The optimized electrode shows excellent stability.