LAUSR

Abstract Cobalt phosphate (CoPO) nanoflakes evenly grown on nickel foam (NF) substrate are triumphantly synthesized through a handy hydrothermal/solvothermal process. The morphology of the CoPO is regular circular nanoflakes with the diameter size of 2–5 μm. The nickel foam supported cobalt phosphate (CoPO/NF) which presents more prominent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity and stability shows an overpotential (116 mV at 10 mA cm−2) and Tafel slope (65.6 mV dec−1) superior to previously reported CoPO and commercial RuO2 catalysts. Furthermore, after 48 h current-time test, the CoPO/NF maintains 96.7% compared to initial current density. The maximum current densities of CoPO/NF in the linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) curves are basically stable from the 1st cyclic voltammetry (CV) cycle to the 20000th CV cycles. The prominent OER performance of CoPO/NF can be put down to the nickel foam substrate, which amplifies the electrochemically active superficial area of CoPO nanoflakes. The low-cost, simple and convenient preparation method, favorable catalytic activity and stability make this CoPO/NF material a hopeful OER electrocatalyst for electrochemical water oxidation.