Efficient and stable Fe3O4@SiO2 core–shell nanospheres for electrochemical water oxidation under neutral conditions

Abstract

To further improve the water oxidation activity of Fe₃O₄, SiO₂-treated Fe₃O₄ was successfully obtained by using a modified Stöber sol–gel process. The resulting Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ nanospheres not only showed noticeable water oxidation ability, but also display robust catalytic performance without a decay in activity throughout 1 h of testing at neutral pH.