Sulfurizing-Induced Hollowing of Co₉S₈ Microplates with Nanosheet Units for Highly Efficient Water Oxidation

Abstract

Transition metal-based compounds are promising alternative nonprecious electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution to noble metals-based materials. Nanosheet-constructed hollow structures can efficiently promote the electrocatalystic activity, mainly because of their largely exposed active sites. Herein, hierarchical Co₉S₈ hollow microplates with nanosheet building units are fabricated via sulfurization and subsequent calcination of preformed Co-glycolate microplates. Benefiting from the advantages of a hollow structure, nanosheet units and high Co³⁺ content, Co₉S₈ hollow microplates exhibit remarkable catalytic property for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with low overpotential of 278 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm^-2, a low Tafel slope of 53 mV dec^-1, and satisfied stability. This construction method of Co₉S₈ hierarchical hollow microplates composed of a nanosheet structure is an effective tactic for promoting OER performance of water splitting electrocatalysts.