An efficient and cost-effective tri-functional electrocatalyst based on cobalt ferrite embedded nitrogen doped carbon.

The development of efficient, cost-effective and long-lived electro-catalyst is necessary for the realization of practically viable water-splitting systems. A trifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting (hydrogen evolution, oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reaction, HER/ORR/OER) was designed via eco-friendly and facial way. CoFe2O4 nanoparticles embedded in nitrogen doped mesoporous carbon were prepared using chicken egg white/albumin after pyrolysis at different temperatures, 700, 800, 900 and 1000 °C. The specific surface area, pore size and the interaction between CoFe2O4 nanoparticles and carbon matrix were tuned via pyrolysis temperature. The catalyst prepared at 900 °C, (N/CF-EC-900) exhibit superior catalytic activity as well as the superior stability than that other nanocomposites prepared and other commercial catalyst (Pt/C, RuO2) for water splitting. Our findings emphasize the importance of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles embedded in the carbon and suggest the catalytic activities with low onset potential, high current densities, small Tafel slope in basic medium.