Heterostructural Co||Cu Coated with Nitrogen-Doped\nCarbon as a Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction\nReaction and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

The\ndevelopment of steady-going, economical, and competent electrocatalysts\nis essential for advancing energy storage and conversion technologies.\nThis work adopts a one-pot solid-phase synthesis method to successfully\nprepare hierarchically structured electrocatalysts in which the heterostructure\nCo||Cu is encapsulated in nitrogen-doped carbon materials (Co||Cu/NC).\nThe as-prepared Co||Cu/NC exhibits superior electrocatalytic performance\nthan Pt/C for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and a promising electrocatalytic\nperformance for hydrogen evolution reaction. What is more, Co||Cu/NC\nsuccessfully demonstrated capacity in zinc–air batteries by\ndemonstrating good power density, specific capacity, and convincing\nstability. Efficient electrocatalytic activity is attributed to the\nheterostructure, which causes charge redistribution, accelerates molecular\nadsorption, and promotes reaction process. Then, the N-doped carbon\nmakes high conductivity and stability possible. This work delivers\na promising strategy for designing and preparing high-efficiency,\nlow-cost, and non-noble metal nanostructure electrocatalysts for ORR\nand water splitting.