Ni-Bi Nanosheet Arrays Loaded with FeOOH for Efficient Oxygen Evolution

Abstract

Purposes It is of great significance for the storage and utilization of solar energy to develop high-efficiency non-precious metal oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts that can be used in water splitting under near-neutral conditions. Methods FeOOH@Ni-Bi/NF electrocatalyst was constructed in two steps by electro-oxidation treatment and electro-deposition of Ni(OH)2/NF that obtained by hydrothermal method. Findings The large number of active sites provided by nickel foam (NF) substrate and three-dimensional nanosheet array structure of the catalyst facilitate the mass transfer process of OER. In addition, the electrochemical activity of catalyst is greatly enhanced by modulating the electro-oxidation degree of Ni-Bi and the amount of deposited FeOOH. Catalytic performance of the optimized FeOOH@Ni-Bi/NF is tested in near-neutral medium (0.1 mmol/L K2B4O7) with an overpotential of 394 mV and a Tafel slope of 54.2 mV/dec at 20 mA/cm2, showing excellent catalytic activity and long-term stability for OER.

Keywords

• oxygen evolution reaction
• nife-based
• nanosheet array
• synergistic effect