A plant petal template synthesis of Mn3O4 nanosheets for enhanced oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Transition-metal oxides are a primary focus in the development of oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts due to their demonstrated efficacy. However, the structural characteristics of these materials often necessitate the use of hazardous, multi-step synthesis methods. In this study, we present a straightforward impregnation technique utilizing plant petal templates for the synthesis of catalytic Mn₃O₄ nanosheets. The resulting lamellar Mn₃O₄ nanosheets exhibit a 320 mV overpotential at 10 mA cm⁻², a reduced Tafel slope of 131 mV dec⁻¹, and enhanced durability in alkaline environments. The successful fabrication of these manganese oxide nanosheets may offer a novel approach for the rational design of high-performance OER catalysts.