LaCoO3 Perovskite Nanoparticles Embedded in NiCo2O4 Nanoflowers as Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution

It is essential to design high-efficiency, stable, and inexpensive electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). We fabricate a hybrid system of perovskite LaCoO3 with spinel NiCo2O4 denoted LaCoO3/NiCo2O4 via an in situ hydrothermal process. In situ incorporation of LaCoO3 nanoparticles on the NiCo2O4 nanoflower surface is confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. Benefiting from the interface engineering, the obtained LaCoO3/NiCo2O4 hybrid nanoflowers exhibit the lowest overpotential of 353 at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 and a small Tafel slope of 59 mV/dec in alkaline media compared with pristine LaCoO3 (401 mV, 116 mV/dec) and NiCo2O4 (386 mV, 73 mV/dec). The optimized sample possesses a higher electrochemical surface of 111.45 cm2 than LaCoO3 perovskite (35.37 cm2) and NiCo2O4 spinel oxide (61.37 cm2) structures. The enhanced OER performance of the LaCoO3/NiCo2O4 composite structure is due to the accumulation of LaCoO3 nanoparticles over NiCo2O4 petals, which introduces a substantial number of electrochemically active sites for the catalysis process to promote charge and mass transport. In addition to this, LaCoO3/NiCo2O4 exhibits long-term stability over 20 h. Thus, it is believed that the excellent OER activity of the LaCoO3/NiCo2O4 composite structure is associated with strong interaction between LaCoO3 and NiCo2O4 as well as a large surface area and a unique flower structure.