Efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution at ultra-high current densities over 3D Fe, N doped Ni(OH)2 nanosheets

• Published in: Chinese chemical letters Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 1210 - 1214
• Main Authors: Shi, Pu, Cheng, Xiaodi, Lyu, Siliu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2021; Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education,College of Chemical and Biological Engineering,Zhejiang University,Hangzhou 310027,China
• Subjects: NiOOH; Nitrogen doped; Oxygen evolution reaction; Ultra-high current density; Vapor phase hydrothermal; NiOOH; Ultra-high current density; Nitrogen doped; Vapor phase hydrothermal; Oxygen evolution reaction
• ISSN: 1001-8417; 1878-5964
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2020.09.030

The 3D Fe,N-Ni(OH)2/NF were prepared through simple ammonia hydrothermal and impregnation method and exhibited excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performances under ultra-high current densities when employed as the electrocatalyst. This work is expected to provide new insights into the study of OER process towards ultra-high current densities. [Display omitted] Developing highly efficient nickel or iron based hydroxide electrocatalysts is primary essential but challenging for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at ultra-high current densities. Herein, we developed a facile method to prepare nitrogen and iron doped nickel(II) hydroxide nanosheets on self-supported conductive nickel foam (denoted as Fe,N-Ni(OH)2/NF) through ammonia hydrothermal and impregnation methods. Owing to the optimization of the electronic structure by nitrogen doping and the strong synergistic effect between Fe and Ni(OH)2, the three-dimensional (3D) Fe,N-Ni(OH)2/NF nanosheets delivered superior electrocatalytic OER performances in basic solution with low potentials of 1.57 V and 1.59 V under 500 mA/cm2 and 1000 mA/cm2 respectively and robust operation for 10 h with ignored activity decay, comparing well with the potentials of previously reported NiFe based electrocatalysts as well as the benchmark commercial Ir/C/NF. In-situ Raman spectroscopy revealed that the main active species were NiOOH during the OER process. The present results are expected to provide new insights into the study of OER process towards ultra-high current densities.