Three-Dimensional Crystalline/Amorphous Co/Co₃O₄ Core/Shell Nanosheets as Efficient Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Earth-abundant, low-cost electrocatalysts with outstanding catalytic activity in the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are critical in realizing the hydrogen economy to lift our future welfare and civilization. Here we report that excellent HER activity has been achieved with three-dimensional core/shell Co/Co₃O₄ nanosheets composed of a metallic cobalt core and an amorphous cobalt oxide shell. A benchmark HER current density of 10 mA cm^–2 has been achieved at an overpotential of ∼90 mV in 1 M KOH. The excellent activity is enabled with the unique metal/oxide core/shell structure, which allows high electrical conductivity in the core and high catalytic activity on the shell. This finding may open a door to the design and fabrication of earth-abundant, low-cost metal oxide electrocatalysts with satisfactory hydrogen evolution reaction activities