New Co₃O₄ phase outperforms spinel type in acidic water electrolysis

Scientists produced a new trigonal-phase Co₃O₄ via a vacuum-mediated molten-alkali mechanochemical method. The material features edge-shared octahedral coordination and achieves lower overpotential than spinel-type Co₃O₄ in the acidic oxygen evolution reaction, while also reducing cobalt dissolution. The findings were published in Nature on 29 July 2026.