Development of electrocatalysts composed of low cost and abundant elements that exhibit catalytic activity comparable to noble metals is important for water splitting. As such, in this study, a catalyst material with a ginger-like morphology consisting of Co6W6C is synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction and pyrolysis treatment. The Co6W6C catalyst exhibits satisfactory electrochemical properties towards both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions in an alkaline electrolyte, with a low overpotential, low Tafel slope, and durable stability. Co6W6C possesses a high activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline conditions, with an onset potential and overpotential of -0.024 V and 101 mV, respectively, and low Tafel slope of 80.5 mV dec(-1) at a current density of 10 mA cm(-2). In addition, Co6W6C achieves a current density of 10 mA cm(-2) for the oxygen evolution reaction at an overpotential of only 343 mV. Furthermore, electrochemical stability tests indicate that the Co6W6C catalyst maintains 91% of the original current after 60,000 s for the hydrogen evolution reaction and 95% of the original current after 45,000 s for the oxygen evolution reaction. Moreover, electrochemical splitting of water via a two-electrode system employing this catalyst can hold 89% of the initial current after 40,000 sin 1 M KOH. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.