Composite of a perovskite oxide (LaCoO₃) with polyaniline: a novel electrode material for OER

The fabrication and development of extremely effective catalyst for OER is crucial for advancement of water oxidation technologies. Perovskite oxides, especially LaCoO₃, have garnered substantial interest attributed to their advantageous electronic structure and catalytic properties; yet, their practical application is constrained by elevated overpotential and slow charge-transfer kinetics. This study successfully combined polyaniline (PANI) with LaCoO₃ using a straightforward hydrothermal method to improve its electrocatalytic activity. Various physical approaches were applied to assess surface area, morphology and crystalline framework of fabricated composite. The physical characterization results indicate an enhanced surface area (SA = 98.57 m²/g) for the composite. The synthesized LaCoO₃-PANI composite demonstrated boosted OER performance, attaining a less overpotential (η) of 270 mV at current density (j) of 10 mA/cm² and low Tafel value of 38 mV/dec, signifying accelerated reaction kinetics. Furthermore, LaCoO₃-PANI showed a greater electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of 250 cm², remarkable stability of 30 h and negligible solution resistance (R_s = 0.99 Ω). The enhanced efficacy is due to the conductive PANI network, which boosts surface exposure and enables swift electron movement. These findings emphasize LaCoO₃-PANI as a potential and effective electrocatalyst in sustainable water-splitting applications.