A brush-like Cu2O–CoO core–shell nanoarray: an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall seawater splitting

Abstract

Herein, a brush-like Cu₂O–CoO core–shell nanoarray on copper foam (Cu₂O–CoO/CF) can achieve efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance in alkaline seawater electrolyte. This Cu₂O–CoO/CF shows overpotentials as low as 315 and 295 mV at 100 mA cm⁻² for the OER and HER, respectively. Moreover, it could also be operated at 1.82 V with 100 mA cm⁻² in a two-electrode electrolyzer and exhibits strong stability for at least 50 hours of electrolysis. The excellent performance and hierarchical structure advantages of Cu₂O–CoO/CF provide new ideas for designing efficient seawater splitting electrocatalysts.