Instigating the mixed phases of cobalt oxide in nanowires for electrolysis of urea-based water

Bhide, Aniruddha ORCID: 0000-0001-9191-5772, Gupta, Suraj, Bhabal, Rinkoo, Fernandes, Rohan, Patel, Maulik ORCID: 0000-0002-3214-5752 and Patel, Nainesh ORCID: 0000-0003-3363-5136 (2026) Instigating the mixed phases of cobalt oxide in nanowires for electrolysis of urea-based water Fuel, 404. p. 136181. ISSN 0016-2361, 1873-7153

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Abstract

The urea oxidation reaction (UOR) offers a more energy-efficient alternative to water splitting, with a lower theoretical potential of 0.37 V and the possibility of using urea-based wastewater as an electrolyte. In this study, phosphorus/boron-incorporated cobalt oxide nanowires supported on nickel foam (P,B-Co<inf>x</inf>O<inf>y</inf> NW@NF) are synthesized by hydrothermal and reduction methods as an electrocatalyst for UOR. The P,B-Co<inf>x</inf>O<inf>y</inf> NW@NF demonstrates exceptional electrocatalytic performance with a low UOR potential of 1.33 V at 50 mA/cm² in alkaline media. Comprehensive structural and morphological analyses reveal the formation of mixed Co<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf>-CoO phases with abundant oxygen vacancies (O<inf>v</inf>) and Co²⁺ species, which synergistically enhance conductivity and provide ideal surroundings for active M−OOH species formation. In-situ electrochemical kinetic studies highlight the superior catalytic activity of P,B-Co<inf>x</inf>O<inf>y</inf> NW@NF, attributed to a high density of active sites, improved reactant adsorption, and efficient desorption of byproducts, including CO<inf>2</inf>. The catalyst exhibits excellent long-term stability with minimal degradation of 7 % over 100 h of continuous chronoamperometry testing and 2 % loss after 10,000 cycles. Furthermore, the activity of P,B-Co<inf>x</inf>O<inf>y</inf> NW@NF is evaluated in alkaline natural cow urine, requiring just 1.35 V at 50 mA/cm² for UOR, demonstrating its practical relevance for real-world applications. These findings showcase the significant potential of P,B-Co<inf>x</inf>O<inf>y</inf> NW@NF as a scalable and stable electrocatalyst for sustainable hydrogen production from wastewater.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	40 Engineering, 4016 Materials Engineering, 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
Divisions:	Faculty of Science & Engineering Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Engineering
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	03 Jul 2025 07:21
Last Modified:	15 Nov 2025 02:25
DOI:	10.1016/j.fuel.2025.136181
Related Websites:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3193517
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