Investigating metal (M = Mn, Fe, and Ni)-doped Co(OH) ₂ nanofibers for electrocatalytic oxygen evolution and electrochemical biosensing performance

Abstract

To achieve efficient and cost-effective electrochemical water splitting, highly active and affordable nanostructured catalysts are the key requirement. The current study presents the investigations of the efficacy of metal (Mn, Fe and Ni)-doped Co(OH)₂ nanofibers towards oxygen evolution <i>via</i> water splitting. Notably, Ni-doped Co(OH)₂ demonstrates superior OER performance in KOH electrolyte, surpassing standard IrO₂ with a modest potential of 1.62 V at 10 mA cm^-2. The remarkable activity is attributed to the nanofiber structure, facilitating faster conduction and offering readily available active sites. Ni-doped Co(OH)₂ nanofibers displayed enduring stability even after 1000 cycles. This work underscores the importance of transition-metal based catalysts as effective electrocatalysts, providing the groundwork for the development of cutting-edge catalysts. Additionally, the electrochemical sensing capability towards ascorbic acid is evaluated, with Ni-doped Co(OH)₂ showing the most promising response, characterized by the lowest LOD and LOQ values. These findings highlight the potential of Ni-doped Co(OH)₂ nanofibers for upcoming diagnostic detection devices.