Electrodeposited porous Co3O4 through ZnO etching catalysts with enhanced oxygen evolution reaction performance

Co 3 O 4 catalysts were grown on ZnO/carbon cloth (CC) by electrodeposition and then the ZnO layer was etched by KOH, and the electrocatalytic water oxygen evolution reaction was investigated. The introduction and etching of ZnO layer can enhance the specific surface area of Co 3 O 4 due to the increased interface between Co 3 O 4 layer and CC as well as the smaller grain size, leading to more active site exposure. Moreover, oxygen vacancies were increased obviously through the above processing, leading to the further improvement in oxygen evolution reaction performance. The porous Co 3 O 4 through ZnO etching was exhibited 337.40 and 385.40 mV at the current density of 10 and 40 mA cm −2 , respectively, and the Tafel slope of porous Co 3 O 4 through ZnO etching is 79.60 mV dec −1 . The results will provide a feasible route to optimize the oxygen evolution reaction performance of Co 3 O 4 catalysts.