Integrated Ultrafine Co0.85Se in Carbon Nanofibers: An Efficient and Robust Bifunctional Catalyst for Oxygen Electrocatalysis

Transition-metal selenides are emerging as alternative bifunctional catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR); however, their activity and stability are still less than desirable. Herein, ultrafine Co0.85Se nanoparticles encapsulated into carbon nanofibers (CNFs), Co0.85Se@CNFs, is reported as an integrated bifunctional catalyst for OER and ORR. This catalyst exhibits a low OER potential of 1.58V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) (E-J=10,E-OER) to achieve a current density (J) of 10mAcm(-2) and a high ORR potential of 0.84V vs. RHE (E-J=-1,E-ORR) to reach -1mAcm(-2). Thus, the potential between E-J=10,E-OER and E-J=-1,E-ORR is only 0.74V, indicating considerable bifunctional activity. The excellent bifunctionality can be attributed to high electronic conduction, abundant electrochemically active sites, and the synergistic effect of Co0.85Se and CNFs. Furthermore, this Co0.85Se@CNFs catalyst displays good cycling stability for both OER and ORR. This study paves a new way for the rational design of hybrid catalysts composed of transition-metal selenides and carbon materials for efficiently catalyzing OER and ORR.