Nanoporous Microspheres of Co-Zn-S as Catalysts for Oxygen Evolution by Water Splitting and Hydrogen Generation by Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis

The nanoporous microspheres of Co-Zn-S were synthesized by a solvothermal method. The as-obtained Co-Zn-S microspheres, as a non-noble metal catalyst, exhibited highly electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline electrolyte. It showed a low overpotential of only 320 mV to afford a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 80.43 mV dec−1. Furthermore, the nanoporous microspheres of Co-Zn-S retained excellent electrocatalytic stability within a period of 36000 s. The catalyst also showed good catalytic performance toward the hydrolysis of ammonia borane to produce around 70 mL of H2 within the time of 30 minutes at room temperature. The nanoporous microspheres of Co-Zn-S exhibits the potential applications for hydrogen/oxygen production by water splitting or ammonia borane hydrolysis.