Designing Bifunctional Electrocatalysts Based on Complex Cobalt-Sulfo-Boride Compound for High-Current-Density Alkaline Water Electrolysis

In the quest to harness renewable energy sources for green hydrogen production, alkaline water electrolysis has emerged as a pivotal technology. Enhancing the reaction rates of overall water electrolysis and streamlining electrode manufacturing necessitate the development of bifunctional and cost-effective electrocatalysts. With this aim, a complex compound electrocatalyst in the form of cobalt-sulfo-boride (Co-S-B) was fabricated using a simple chemical reduction method and tested for overall alkaline water electrolysis. A nanocrystalline form of Co-S-B displayed a combination of porous and nanoflake-like morphology with a high surface area. In comparison to Co-B and Co-S, the Co-S-B electrocatalyst exhibits better bifunctional characteristics requiring lower overpotentials of 144 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction and 280 mV for oxygen evolution reaction to achieve 10 mA/cm