Machine learning assisted Co3O4/NiO popsicle sticks-infused electrospun nanofibers for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Wide range of noble metal free bimetallic and trimetallic based electrocatalysts have been synthesized to develop efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) systems to-date, however, to determine which metal part of bimetallic and trimetallic electrocatalysts plays a significant role in controlling OER efficacy remains very challenging. To address this issue, herein we have employed machine learning (ML) for the first time to determine OER efficacy controlling metal element, thus leading to the development of an optimized bimetallic electrocatalyst. Briefly, we have designed a novel, simple ML optimized sustainable OER electrocatalyst based on Co₃O₄/NiO popsicle sticks (CNPS) infused polyaniline/cellulose acetate (a biopolymer) (PNCA) electrospun nanofibers supported on nickel foam (NF). ML optimized CNPS infused PNCA (CNPS@PNCA) electrode offers maximum and homogenous exposition of active sites and shows high OER activity by exhibiting low onset potential (1.41 V vs. RHE), overpotential (237 mV at 10 mA cm^-2) and Tafel slope of 62.1 mV dec^-1. Additionally, it shows a better stability of more than 100 h and is consistent with the reported literature.