Constructing a CeO2−x@CoFe-layered double hydroxide heterostructure as an improved electrocatalyst for highly efficient water oxidation

• Published in: Inorganic chemistry frontiers Vol. 7; no. 22; pp. 4461 - 4468
• Main Authors: Hu, Yiming, Liu, Wenjun, Jiang, Kun, Xu, Li, Guan, Meili, Bao, Jian, Ji, Hongbing, Li, Huaming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Royal Society of Chemistry 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Cerium oxides; Durability; Electrocatalysts; Energy conversion; Heterostructures; Hydrogen production; Hydroxides; Inorganic chemistry; Metal foams; Nanoparticles; Oxidation; Oxygen evolution reactions; Seawater; Water splitting
• ISSN: 2052-1545; 2052-1553
• DOI: 10.1039/d0qi01003k

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) plays an essential role in energy conversion, especially during the process of hydrogen production via electrocatalytic water-splitting technology. Herein, a heterostructure strategy to construct a CeO2−x decorated CoFe layer double hydroxide (LDH) grown on Ni foam (NF) (denoted as CeO2−x@CoFe LDH/NF) is presented. By constructing the CeO2−x@CoFe LDH heterostructure on NF, the as-prepared CeO2−x@CoFe LDH/NF offers superior electrocatalytic performance for the OER. CoFe LDH as a recognized catalyst provides active sites for OER reactions and CeO2−x nanoparticles bring more oxygen vacancies and synergies with the LDH structure to improve the catalytic performance of the OER. In 1.0 M KOH, it needs an ultralow overpotential of 204 mV to achieve the current density of 100 mA cm−2, and also shows long term durability for more than 30 hours. Moreover, when subjected to simulated alkaline seawater (1.0 M KOH + 0.5 M NaCl), CeO2−x@CoFe LDH/NF still maintains the high activity and durability for the OER without being affected by chloride species. This work will provide a guideline for designing heterostructures of nanoparticles and LDH to drive efficient water oxidation reactions in the future.