Amorphous cobalt-iron decorated carbon paper with nanosheet structure for enhanced oxygen evolution reaction.

A CP based CoFe electrocatalyst with a simple and quick technique has been invested in our study. This amorphous CoFe/CP hybrid exhibits commendable electrocatalytic performance in the OER process, requiring only overpotential of 278 mV to achieve 10 mAm−2 in 1.0 M KOH solution and a lower Tafel slope of 54.58 mV dec-1. Because it enjoys peculiar multistage graded nano structure and Fe, Co co-incorporation, which can modify the surface structure, creating fertile ground for the specific surface area of CP and efficiency of electronic transmission. [Display omitted] • CoFe/CP has successfully grown on 3D nanoarray carbon paper (CP) containing non-precious metals. • The multistage graded nano structure can create fertile ground for the specific surface area of CP and efficiency of electronic transmission. • CoFe/CP with a nanosheet-like structure exhibits amorphous phase. • CoFe/CP-9 shows the corresponding overpotential at 10 mA•cm−2 is 278 mV and remarkable stability. Tremendous attention has been paid on high efficiency, readily available and stability of electrocatalysts. Herein, we ingenious report a one-step reaction strategy synthesis of CoFe/CP grown on three-dimensional (3D) nanoarray carbon paper (CP) containing non-precious metals for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with low-cost and unique hierarchical porous structure. This amorphous CoFe/CP hybrid exhibits commendable electrocatalytic performance in the OER process, requiring only overpotential of 278 mV to achieve 10 mAcm−2 in 1.0 M KOH solution and a lower Tafel slope of 49.12 mVdec-1. In addition, this sample shows a long-term durability even at 200 mAcm−2 without obvious decay, which attributes to peculiar multistage graded nano structure and the change of composition at the interface of CP. Therefore, the remarkable OER activity can provide a new strategy to construct potential candidates, which will replace the state-of-the-art precious metals for OER in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]