Optimizing Carbonaceous Nanostructure Composition as a Substrate to Grow Co Electrocatalysts

Global warming and other adverse environmental effects of fossil fuels have forced humans to consider clean and renewable energy resources. In this context, hydrogen production from water splitting reaction is a key approach. In order to reduce required overpotential for water oxidation reaction, it is necessary to use low cost and earth abundant electrocatalysts like Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn nanostructures. Herein, cobalt nanostructures on steel-mesh substrate were applied. Electrochemical method was used for growth of Co nanoflakes because of its simplicity and scalability for commercial approach. On the other hand, using carbonaceous support layers including nanomaterials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes, can reduce overpotential and increase efficiency of the electrocatalyst. According to the results, 40 wt% of graphene oxide and 60 wt% of carbon nanotubes in prepared carbon paste led to better growth for cobalt oxide nanoflakes. For the mentioned layer, cobalt was detected in metallic crystalline phase and the overpotential and electrical resistance measured 305 mV and 20 Ω, respectively.