title: Self-Templating Synthesis of Hollow Co3O4Microtube Arrays for Highly Efficient Water Electrolysis.
abstract: In spite of recent advances in the synthesis of hollow micro/nanostructures, the fabrication of three-dimensional electrodes on the basis of these structures remains a major challenge. Herein, we develop an electrochemical sacrificial-template strategy to fabricate hollow Co3O4microtube arrays with hierarchical porosity. The resultant unique structures and integrated electrode configurations impart enhanced mass transfer and electron mobility, ensuring high activity and stability in catalyzing oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions. Impressively, the apparent performance can rival that of state-of-the-art noble-metal and transition-metal electrocatalysts. Furthermore, this bifunctional electrode can be used for highly efficient overall water splitting, even competing with the integrated performance of Pt/C and IrO2/C.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Yun Pei
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Tian Yi
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA.
authors.forename: Mietek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaroniec
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Shi Zhang
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4568-8422
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Qiao
keywords: cobalt; electrocatalysis; microtubes; template synthesis; water splitting