Perovskite oxides with poor conductivity call for three-dimensional (3D) conductive scaffolds to demonstrate their superb reactivities for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, perovskite formation usually requires high-temperature annealing at 600° to 900°C in air, under which most of the used conductive frameworks (for example, carbon and metal current collectors) are reductive and cannot survive. We propose a preoxidization coupled electrodeposition strategy in which Co2+ is preoxidized to Co3+ through cobalt Fenton reaction in aqueous solution, whereas the reductive nickel framework is well maintained during the sequential annealing under nonoxidative atmosphere. The in situ–generated Co3+ is inherited into oxidized perovskites deposited on 3D nickel foam, rendering the monolithic perovskite electrocatalysts with extraordinary OER performance with an ultralow overpotential of 350 mV required for 10 mA cm−2, a very small Tafel slope of 59 mV dec−1, and superb stability in 0.10 M KOH. Therefore, we inaugurate a unique strategy for in situ hybridization of oxidative active phase with reductive framework, affording superb reactivity of perovskite electrocatalyst for efficient water oxidation.
An aqueous preoxidation method for monolithic perovskite electrocatalysts with enhanced water oxidation performance
