Nanostructured CuO/C Hollow Shell@3D Copper Dendrites as a Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Adoption of bare metal oxides as catalytic materials shows inferior electrochemical activity because of their poor electrical conductivity. Although synthetic strategies for the employment of conductive substrates are well-established, the rational design and fabrication of hollow metal oxides nanostructures on the robust matrix with a high surface area and conductivity remains challenging. In the present research work, a strategy that transforms a metal–organic framework thin layer into a nanostructured CuO/C hollow shell to coat on the 3D nano-dendritic Cu foams as an electrode was successfully developed. This electrode is claimed to provide an extraordinary electrocatalysis for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media. The hierarchical complex presents fast electronic transmission networks and rich redox sites, leading to the significant enhancement in electrocatalytic OER efficiency. Furthermore, the spherical porous structure and robust architecture facilitate the high-speed diffusion of O2 bubbles in a long-term operation. The results of this study may serve as a reference for the designing of novel class 3D metal/metal oxide hierarchical structures for gas-involved (i.e., O2, H2, and CO2) electrocatalytic applications and beyond.