CuCo2O4/Ti3C2Tx MXene hybrid electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction of water splitting

Cobalt-based spinel oxides are promising candidates for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), however their limited electrical conductivity and low crystal stability may hinder further improvement. This report indroduces CuCo2O4 nanoparticles/Ti3C2Tx/nickel foam (NF) hybrid electrocatalyst as a robust electrode for OER, where the presence of the Ti3C2Tx MXene structure could enhance the electrical conductivity of the electrocatalysts. The ultra-thin hybrid structure with large surface area can effectively increase the number of electrochemically active sites and enhance the electrocatalytic performance. Experimental findings indicated that CuCo2O4/Ti3C2Tx hybrid structure on NF shows superior improved OER electrocatalytic activity compared to pristine Ti3C2Tx. Accordingly, hybrid elecrocatalyst not only showed a low overpotential of 1.67 V at 100 mA.cm2, and a small Tafel slope of 49 mV dec−1, but also exhebited an outstanding long-term durability.