Interfacial Electron Redistribution in CoS₂/Co₃O₄ Heterostructures Enabled by In-Situ Anion-Driven Topochemical Transformation toward Efficient Oxygen Evolution

Authors

• Yiyuan Ren, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro Nano Sensing and Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
• Yutong Zhang, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro Nano Sensing and Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
• Haoyi Zhang, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro Nano Sensing and Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
• Minrui Pan, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro Nano Sensing and Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
• Jing Li, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro Nano Sensing and Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
• Tingyu Lu, Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.Follow
• Dongmei Sun, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro Nano Sensing and Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.Follow
• Yawen Tang, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro Nano Sensing and Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.Follow

Document Type

Article

Corresponding Author(s)

Tingyu Lu([email protected]);
Dongmei Sun([email protected]);
Yawen Tang([email protected])

Abstract

Designing efficient and durable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is critical for advancing sustainable electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies such as rechargeable Zinc-Air Battery (ZAB). Herein, we fabricate a heterostructured OER catalyst composed of CoS₂ and Co₃O₄ nanosheets supported on nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (hereafter denoted as CoS₂/Co₃O₄@CFs) through the anion engineering. Experimental results demonstrate that the in-situ selective sulfidation constructs abundant CoS₂/Co₃O₄ heterointerfaces, enabling the synergistic regulation of electronic structure and active-site distribution. The O-to-S anion substitution modulates the interfacial electronic properties and establishes a pronounced work-function difference, where CoS₂ exhibits a higher work function than Co₃O₄. This difference drives interfacial charge redistribution and the formation of a built-in electric field, which may modulate the local adsorption environment of oxygenated intermediates and thereby contribute to the enhanced OER kinetics. Therefore, CoS₂/Co₃O₄@CFs delivers superior OER activity with a low overpotential of 304 mV A at 10 mA⋅cm^-2, along with remarkable long-term durability in alkaline electrolyte. Furthermore, when employed as the air cathode in a ZAB, the CoS₂/Co₃O₄@CFs demonstrates excellent rechargeability, favorable rate capability, and stable cycling performance. This work highlights anion-induced in-situ topochemical transformation strategy for regulating interfacial electron redistribution, providing insights into the rational design of high-performance cobalt-based electrocatalysts.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

non-precious electrocatalysts, anion-engineered topochemical transformation, schottky heterostructure, oxygen evolution reaction, zinc-air battery

DOI

10.61558/2993-074X.3626

Online Date

9-22-2026

Recommended Citation

Yiyuan Ren, Yutong Zhang, Haoyi Zhang, Minrui Pan, Jing Li, Tingyu Lu, Dongmei Sun, Yawen Tang. Interfacial Electron Redistribution in CoS2/Co3O4 Heterostructures Enabled by In-Situ Anion-Driven Topochemical Transformation toward Efficient Oxygen Evolution[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, doi: 10.61558/2993-074X.3625.