Challenges, prospects, and surface chemistry of CuCo2O4 in energy storage, electro-photocatalysis, solar cells, and sensor applications

Abstract

Copper Cobalt Oxide (CuCo2O4), a spinel metal oxide material, has attracted significant interest for its applications in energy storage, photocatalysis, electrochemical sensors, solar cells, and biomedical applications. However, its full potential is hindered by several issues such as poor conductivity, limited storage capacity, structural disordering, microstructural changes during conversion reactions, low photocatalytic efficiency, and electrochemical sensitivity. In addition, the current fabrication techniques are unable to synthesize complex microstructures of CCO to further enhance the performance and broaden the applications. In this review article, we discuss various synthesis techniques for fabricating different microstructures of CCO, comparing these methods in terms of hazardous material use, time consumption, performance, and the advanced equipment required. We also highlight the impact of different microstructures on charge storage capacity in supercapacitors and batteries, electro and photocatalysis, oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions, electrochemical sensing, and solar cell efficiency. Additionally, we explore several chemomechanical models and DFT studies to analyze charge-transfer mechanisms, side reactions during cycling, synergistic effects, mechanistic insights and interface reactions, and formation of oxygen vacancies in CCO. Finally, we propose various strategies and recommendations to fully harness the potential of CCO in the aforementioned applications.