Boosting water electrolysis with anodic glucose oxidation reaction over engineered cobalt nickel hydroxide nanosheet on carbon cloth

The pursuit of low cell voltage for water splitting is urgent for the clean and sustainable energy. However, the cell voltage is limited by the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), requiring a higher overpotential than cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, to boost water electrolysis, we replace the anodic OER with glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) over engineered ultra-thin cobalt nickel hydroxide nanosheet on carbon cloth, in which can synergistically improve its numbers of active sites, conductivity, intrinsic activity and stability with the Co doped α-Ni(OH)2. When it couples with Pt cathode, the resulting cell voltage to drive water splitting at the current density of 100 mA cm−2 with the assistance of glucose is as low as 1.56 V. While without the glucose in the electrolyte, the potential reaches as high as 1.75 V. Therefore, replacing OER with the GOR can reduce the potential of water electrolysis. This work is contributed to the development the other highly active and robust electrocatalysts in water electrolysis with the assistance of glucose or similar organic molecular. To boost water electrolysis, the sluggish anodic oxygen evolution reaction was replaced by glucose oxidation reaction over engineered ultra-thin cobalt nickel hydroxide nanosheet on carbon cloth. [Display omitted] •Glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) needs lower potential than oxygen evolution reaction (OER).•The Co α-Ni(OH)2 nanosheet can synergistically improved its conductivity, intrinsic activity and stability.•The cell voltage of glucose electrolysis at the current density of 100 mA cm-2 is as low as 1.56 V.