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Electrochemical water splitting is considered as a promising approach to storing renewable electricity in the form of hydrogen fuel. In this work, we report the design and electrocatalytic properties of chiral CuO@Ni with three dimensional (3D) continuous macroporous framework. With the chiral CuO@Ni as anode, the OER overpotential required to achieve the current density of 10 mA/cm2 was as low as 110 mV in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte, and the hydrogen production rate of water splitting reaction could reach 1070 nL/s. Moreover, the OER overpotential could be regulated easily by controlling the deposition time of chiral CuO layer on Ni. The high catalytic activity of chiral CuO@Ni for water splitting is closely associated with the Chiral-induced spin selectivity ( CISS ) effect, the large reactive area provided by its 3D macroporous structure, and the effective cooperation between chiral CuO and Ni foam that facilitated the transportation of spin aligned electrons from chiral CuO layer to Ni. The results shown in this work indicate a simple and promising strategy to improve the electrocatalytic activity of other chiral earth-abundant catalysts for water splitting. This work shows the design and properties of chiral CuO@Ni with three dimensional continuous macroporous framework. The chiral CuO@Ni exhibited lower OER overpotential and larger current density than many CuO-based catalysts. Its high catalytic activity for water splitting reaction is attributed to the CISS effect of chiral CuO, the large reactive area of its 3D porous structure, and the synergistic interaction between the chiral CuO and the Ni foam. Image 1 • Chiral CuO@Ni with three dimensional continuous macroporous framework. • Low OER overpotential (110 mV) to achieve 10 mA/cm2 current density. • Easy and effective way to enhance the activity of chiral earth-abundant catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial charge separation is an essential issue to restrict catalytic activity of photocatalysts. In this work, we report a promising and easy-to-handle strategy to modulate the activity of a C 60 -based photocatalyst (C 60 @Pt) for visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with the coupling of magnetic substance that had weak ferromagnetism (Fe 3 O 4 microbeads as an instance). It is found that Fe 3 O 4 microbeads played a pivotal role in boosting photocatalytic activity and apparent quantum efficiency of C 60 @Pt for visible-light-driven HER, as the weak local magnetic field it induced around C 60 @Pt contributed to facilitating the separation of photo electrons from electron-donor in reaction system. This work shows a promising strategy to enhance photocatalytic activity of C 60 -based photocatalyst (C 60 @Pt as an instance) for visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution by coupling it with magnetic substance Fe 3 O 4 microbeads that had weak ferromagnetism. It is found that the Fe 3 O 4 microbeads played a pivotal role in enhancing photocatalytic activity of C 60 @Pt as the weak local magnetic field it induced around C 60 @Pt contributed to promoting the separation of photo-excited electrons from electron-donor. This strategy effectively boosted hydrogen evolution rate and AQE of C 60 @Pt. [Display omitted] • Modulate activity of C 60 -based photocatalyst via connecting weak magnetic substance. • Promote separation of photo-excited electrons by inducing weak local magnetic field. • AQE was boosted up to 2.5 times with the coupling of weak magnetic substance. • Hydrogen evolution improved up to 3.7 times when connecting weak magnetic substance. • Remarkably improve HER photocatalytic robustness of C 60 -based photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]