Bifunctional Activity of PVP K-30 Assisted Cobalt Molybdate for Electrocatalytic Water Splitting

Abstract

Hydrogen fuel has emerged as pollution free renewable energy source and is a better substitute for carbon-based fossil fuels. Now it is a big challenge for research community to produce green efficient hydrogen fuel in order to fulfil the demand of our daily need. Water splitting process is a highly recognized way of hydrogen production and storage. The fabrication of efficient electrocatalyst is highly desirable for water splitting application. Structure directing groups play an unique role in controlling the size, and morphology of nanoparticles which ultimately affects the efficiency. Here we report a cost-effective CoMoO4 electrocatalyst, which was synthesized by an easy chemical co-precipitation method in presence of organic polymeric surfactant K-30. It has a rod shape morphology. CoMoO4 electrocatalyst exhibits high OER activity with low overpotential of 240 mV at 10 mA cm(-2) and low Tafel slope value, 75 mV/dec and stability of 10 h. The electrocatalyst also exhibits better HER activity with over potential of 224 mV at 10 mA cm(-2) and Tafel slope value of 104 mV/dec and stability of 8 h.