Nano-Dimensional Carbon Nanosphere Supported Non-Precious Metal Oxide Composite: A Cathode Material for Sea Water Reduction.

Generation of hydrogen fuel at cathode during the electrolysis of seawater can be economically beneficial considering the vast availability of the electrolyte although it faces sluggishness caused by the anode reactions. In this regard a carbon nanosphere-protected CuO/CoO (CCuU) composite was synthesized through heat treatment and was used as the cathode material for electrocatalytic seawater splitting. CCuU showed a significantly low overpotential of 73 mV@10 mA cm, Tafel slope of 58 mV dec and relatively constant activity and morphology over a long time electrocatalytic study.