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Corresponding Author

Zhen-hai LIANG(liangzhenhai@tyut.edu.cn)

Abstract

Binary metal mixed oxides of Co and Cr with nominal compositional formulas, CoxCr1-xO3/2 (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0), were obtained by thermal decomposition method. The morphologies, crystal forms and valence states of the catalyst powders were analyzed by SEM, XRD and XPS, respectively. And the electrochemical properties, overpotentials and stabilities of CoxCr1-xO3/2 electrodes for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline solution were evaluated by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), staircase voltammetry and chronoamperometry, respectively. The results indicated that the mixtures of Co3O4 and eskolaite-Cr2O3 formed solid solutions of CoxCr1-xO3/2. When x=0.2, the electrocatalytic performance of Co0.2Cr0.8O3/2 catalyst was better than those of Co3O4 and Cr2O3. At high potential region (1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl), the current density of Co0.2Cr0.8O3/2 catalyst was 3.75 times higher than that of Co3O4 and 15.2 times higher than that of Cr2O3. Furthermore, the overpotential of Co0.2Cr0.8O3/2 catalyst (η = 0.0703 V at a current density of 1×10-3 A·cm-2) was much lower than those of Co3O4 (η = 0.6109 V) and Cr2O3 (η = 0.4350 V), showing the best electrocatalytic property. In addition, the Co0.2Cr0.8O3/2 catalyst had good stability in strong alkaline solution (pH = 13) during OER process.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

thermal decomposition, binary oxides, oxygen evolution reaction, electrochemical performance

Publication Date

2015-04-28

Online Available Date

2015-04-23

Revised Date

2015-01-04

Received Date

2014-10-30

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