Metal–organic-framework-derived porous 3D heterogeneous NiFex/NiFe2O4@NC nanoflowers as highly stable and efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen-evolution reaction. Issue 37 (6th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Jia; Zhang, Xu; Liu, Ming; Jiang, Yi-Zhan; Wang, Min; Li, Zhao-Yang; Zhou, Zhen
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 7:Issue 37(2019)
• Page Start: 21338
• Page End: 21348
• Publication Date: 2019-09-06
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c9ta08077e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : Metal–organic-framework-derived porous 3D heterogeneous NiFe x /NiFe2 O4 @NC nanoflowers were prepared as an oxygen-evolution reaction electrocatalyst that exhibit a low overpotential of 262 mV and long-term stability of up to 150 h. Abstract : The development of inexpensive electrocatalysts with excellent oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) performance is the key to expanding the applications of water-splitting chemistry. However, catalysts that simultaneously take into account activity and stability are generally difficult to fabricate. Herein, heterogeneous NiFe x /NiFe2 O4 nanoflowers were successfully embedded in an N-doped graphitic carbon (NC) matrix with a porous 3D superstructure in a simple partial oxidation process after the pyrolysis of a metal–organic framework (MOF). The optimized heterogeneous NiFe x /NiFe2 O4 @NC nanoflower catalyst exhibited high OER performance in terms of its low overpotential of 262 mV at 10 mA cm −2 and outstanding long-term stability (for 150 h) in 1 M KOH as the electrolyte, which are mainly ascribable to its intrinsic heterogeneous and 3D porous structure. First-principles computations confirmed that NiFe x /NiFe2 O4 @NC requires a lower overpotential to promote OER, compared with those of single-component catalysts, which further highlights that this material is a promising low-cost and highly efficient OER electrocatalyst candidate.