Mesoporous NiCo₂O₄ Nanoplates on Three-Dimensional Graphene Foam as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are highly important in fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Cheap ORR catalysts with ultrahigh electrochemical activity, selectivity, and stability are extremely desirable but still remain challenging. Herein, mesoporous NiCo 2 O 4 nanoplate (NP) arrays on three-dimensional (3D) graphene foam are shown to be a highly economical ORR catalyst. This mesoporous mixed-valence oxide can provide more electrocatalytic active sites with increased accessible surface area. In addition, graphene-foam-supported NiCo 2 O 4 NP arrays have a 3D hierarchical porous structure, which is of great benefit to ion diffusion and electron transfer. As a result, the mesoporous NiCo 2 O 4 NP arrays/graphene foam catalyst exhibits outstanding ORR performance with the four-electron reduction of O 2 to H 2 O in alkaline media. Furthermore, the mesoporous catalyst shows enhanced electrocatalytic activity with a half-wave potential of 0.86 V vs RHE and better stability compared with a commercial Pt/C catalyst.