Dual-Soft-Template-Assisted PEG-CTAB Surface Regulation of Co3V2O8 Toward Superior Water Oxidation

The electrochemical water splitting process represents a promising and sustainable route for generating high-purity hydrogen with minimal environmental impact. The development of efficient and economically viable electrocatalysts is crucial for enhancing the kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which is a major bottleneck in overall water splitting. In this study, a Co3V2O8/PEG-CTAB electrocatalyst was synthesized and systematically evaluated for its OER activity in alkaline conditions. The nanosheet-like architecture of the PEG-CTAB-assisted Co3V2O8 electrocatalyst facilitates effective interfacial contact, thereby improving charge transport and catalytic accessibility. Among the examined compositions, the Co3V2O8/PEG-CTAB catalyst exhibited superior OER performance, requiring a low overpotential of 298 mV to deliver a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and displaying a Tafel slope of 90 mV dec−1 in 1 M KOH. Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrated outstanding durability, retaining its electrocatalytic activity after 5000 consecutive CV cycles and prolonged chronopotentiometric testing. The Co3V2O8/PEG-CTAB || Pt-C asymmetric cell required a cell voltage of 1.83 V to reach the threshold current density, confirming its ability to efficiently sustain overall water splitting under alkaline conditions. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effect of the electrocatalyst, which promotes active site exposure and structural stability. These findings highlight the potential of the Co3V2O8/PEG-CTAB system as a cost-effective and robust electrocatalyst for practical water oxidation applications.