Interface engineering of Co3O4---SmMn2O5 nanosheets for efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalysis

Interface engineering is an efficient strategy to modify electronic structure and further improve electrocatalytic activity. Herein, crystalline/amorphous heterostructured Co₃O₄–SmMn₂O₅ nanosheets (Co₃O₄–SMO NSs) have been synthesized by coupling of SMO (electron acceptor) with higher Fermi-level Co₃O₄ (electron donor), via a one-step hydrothermal method followed by calcination. The resulting Co₃O₄–SMO NSs display higher half-wave potential and specific activity than those of pure SMO or Co₃O₄. In addition, Co₃O₄–SMO NSs exhibit superior stability and methanol tolerance. The crystalline/amorphous heterostructure and the electron interaction between SMO and Co₃O₄ result in interfacial charge transfer. This leads to more active valence states and more oxygen vacancies, optimizing the adsorption energy of O species and expediting electron migration, thus boosting oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalytic performance. This study provides a promising strategy to design efficient ORR electrocatalysts by interfacial engineering.