Co0.85Se/V3O4@NC composite catalyst for improved methanol oxidation reaction in water splitting

Employing methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in place of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) serves as a useful approach to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production through water splitting. In this research, we synthesized nanoparticles composed of a Co0.85Se/V3O4 combined with nitrogen-doped carbon (termed as Co0.85Se/ V3O4@NC). The formation of the Co0.85Se/V3O4 composite improves the transfer of charge from Co0.85Se to nitrogen-doped carbon (NC). This electronic regulation promotes the formation of active sites for the MOR, resulting in the Co0.85Se/V3O4@NC catalyst showcasing outstanding performance in MOR. The use of Co0.85Se/ V3O4@NC as the anode in methanol-assisted water splitting allows for a current density of 10 mA cm-2 with a voltage requirement of just 1.49 V. This research introduces a promising approach for creating efficient catalysts intended for methanol-assisted water splitting.