Synergistic Co3O4–LaFeO3–Fe2O3 Ternary Nanocomposite Electrocatalysts for the High-Performance Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Abstract Developing efficient, non-noble metal electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains central to advancing water-splitting technologies for sustainable hydrogen production. Herein, a perovskite-spinel oxide nanocomposite, Co3O4–LaFeO3 nanoparticles anchored on nearly spherical Fe2O3 nanoparticles (LFC), is synthesized via a facile sonication route. X-ray diffraction confirms the successful formation of the nanocomposite phase, while field emission scanning electron microscopy reveals a well-integrated morphology. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy further elucidates the surface chemical states and confirms the coexistence of the constituent oxide phases. When evaluated as an OER electrocatalyst in 1 M KOH, the LFC nanocomposite significantly outperforms its individual constituents (LaFeO3, Fe2O3, and Co3O4), delivering a low overpotential of 170 mV at a benchmark current density of 10 mA cm–2, alongside a reduced Tafel slope of 117 mV dec–1. Notably, chronoamperometric testing demonstrates robust long-term stability with only a 17.31% decay in current density after 100 h of continuous operation. The enhanced activity is attributed to the synergistic heterointerface between the perovskite and spinel/oxide components, which increases the density of accessible active sites, accelerates interfacial charge transfer, and preserves the structural integrity under prolonged anodic polarization. These findings establish the LFC nanocomposite as a promising, cost-effective electrocatalyst platform and offer design principles for engineering multicomponent metal oxide heterostructures for durable, high-performance water electrolysis.