Magnetic Field Effect on the Electrocatalytic Activity of Cobalt-Phosphate Oxyhydroxide Oxygen Evolving Thin Films

We demonstrate a 30 – 40% enhancement in electrocatalytic current for water splitting with an externally applied magnetic field of 1.5 T. The observed effect is unvaried by the presence of a cobalt-phosphate oxyhydroxide catalyst and is attributed to the removal of O2 gas bubbles at the surface of the electrode. The results indicate that the applied magnetic field acts in concert with the electrocatalyst to further lower the overpotential of water oxidation, highlighting the importance for more detailed studies of magnetic field effects in electrocatalytic materials.