Bimetallic Co-Based (CoM, M = Mo, Fe, Mn) Coatings for High-Efficiency Water Splitting

Abstract

Bimetallic cobalt (Co)-based coatings were prepared by a facile, fast, and low-cost electroless deposition on a copper substrate (CoFe, CoMn, CoMo) and characterized by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Prepared coatings were thoroughly examined for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solution (1 M potassium hydroxide, KOH) and their activity compared to that of Co and Ni coatings. All five coatings showed activity for both reactions, where CoMo and Co showed the highest activity for HER and OER, respectively. Namely, the highest HER current density was recorded at CoMo coating with low overpotential (61 mV) to reach a current density of 10 mA·cm−2. The highest OER current density was recorded at Co coating with a low Tafel slope of 60 mV·dec−1. Furthermore, these coatings proved to be stable under HER and OER polarization conditions.

Keywords

• electroless deposition
• cobalt-based coatings
• hydrogen evolution reaction
• oxygen evolution reaction
• water electrolysis