Co(OH)2 Nanoparticle-Encapsulating Conductive Nanowires Array: Room-Temperature Electrochemical Preparation for High-Performance Water Oxidation Electrocatalysis

It is highly desired but still remains challenging to design and develop a Co-based nanoparticle-encapsulated conductive nanoarray at room temperature for high-performance water oxidation electrocatalysis. Here, it is reported that room-temperature anodization of a Co(TCNQ) 2 (TCNQ = tetracyanoquinodimethane) nanowire array on copper foam at alkaline pH leads to in situ electrochemcial oxidation of TCNQ − into water-insoluable TCNQ nanoarray embedding Co(OH) 2 nanoparticles. Such Co(OH) 2 -TCNQ/CF shows superior catalytic activity for water oxidation and demands only a low overpotential of 276 mV to drive a geometrical current density of 25 mA cm −2 in 1.0 m KOH. Notably, it also demonstrates strong long-term electrochemical durability with its activity being retrained for at least 25 h, a high turnover frequency of 0.97 s −1 at an overpotential of 450 mV and 100% Faradic efficiency. This study provides an exciting new method for the rational design and development of a conductive TCNQ-based nanoarray as an interesting 3D material for advanced electrochemical applications.