Urchin-like CuCo2O4/CuO decorated on carbon nanostructure for oxygen evolution reaction in an alkaline medium

Electrochemical water splitting is associated with a complex four-electron transfer oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode side. A stable and durable OER electrocatalyst is highly demanded for sustainable hydrogen generation at the cathode side. Herein, we report urchin-like CuCo2O4/CuO (CCO/CuO) decorated on carbon nanostructures synthesized using a one-pot wet chemical method as an electrocatalyst for OER in an alkaline medium. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and turnover frequency (TOF) were performed to study the electrochemical activity of the catalyst material. CCO/CuO annealed at 400 °C exhibited higher OER activity than CCO/CuO annealed at 600 °C. Further CCO/CuO-400 decorated on reduced graphene oxide triggered the electrocatalytic activity slightly higher than standalone CCO/CuO-400. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.