Graphitic Carbon Nitride Composites with MoO3-Decorated Co3O4 Nanorods as Catalysts for Oxygen and Hydrogen Evolution

We have prepared a graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) composite with MoO3-decorated Co3O4 nanorods (Co3O4/MoO3/g-C3N4) via the hydrothermal approach, and this hybrid material acts as a highly active and durable electrocatalyst for water splitting reactions. This material could fundamentally influence the catalytic processes and performance of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The OER and HER activities of Co3O4-/MoO3-based nanorods are enhanced by blending with conducting support, for example, graphitic carbon nitrides (g-C3N4). The X-ray diffraction pattern and the attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared data revealed that the as-synthesized nanorods are highly crystalline in nature and are attached to the g-C3N4 support. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy studies also affirm the successful heterointerface formation between Co3O4/MoO3 nanorods and g-C3N4. This Co3O4/MoO3/g-C3N4 rod-shaped catalyst is highly stable in comparison to its individual constituent and generates a current density of 10 mA cm–2 at a low overpotential of 206 mV for OER and 125 mV for HER in alkaline and acidic media, respectively. This work could pave the way for developing Co3O4/MoO3/g-C3N4 composite materials as electrocatalysts for overall water splitting reactions.