Natural‐Cellulose‐Nanofibril‐Tailored NiFe Nanoparticles for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction. Issue 13 (3rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tian, Cuihua; Liu, Zhichen; Wu, Yiqiang; Lu, Xihong; Yang, Tianyun; Tao, Xu; Qing, Yan
• Is Part Of: ChemElectroChem. Volume 6:Issue 13(2019)
• Page Start: 3303
• Page End: 3310
• Publication Date: 2019-07-03
• Subjects: cellulose nanofibrils -- NiFe electrocatalyst -- tailoring performance -- high efficiency -- oxygen evolution reaction; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1002/celc.201900738
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-0216

Abstract

Abstract: High performance, resource abundance, and environmental friendliness have been raising as major challenges for the next‐generation of affordable and sustainable electrocatalysts. Herein, natural cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) with abundant carboxyls and hydroxyls were employed to tailor NiFe catalysts (NiFeNSC) for the efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Benefiting from the introduction of CNF, the NiFe metal ions were homogeneously dispersed on the CNF surface and exhibited a smaller particle size. Additionally, the surface area was 3.17 times larger and the surface wettability was significantly improved. By integrating the active NiFe nanoparticles with doped CNF, the overpotential of synthesized NiFeNSC catalyst was decreased from 370 mV to 244 mV to deliver a current density of 10 mA cm −2, and exhibited a small Tafel slope of 43.3 mV dec −1 in 1.0 M KOH electrolyte. Impressively, the NiFeNSC displayed excellent long‐term stability, which was only 38 mV increased over 24 h chronopotentiometry measurement, outperforming the catalyst without CNF (NiFeNS) and commercial RuO2 catalyst remarkably. The present results demonstrate a new avenue for designing resource abundant and sustainable electrocatalysts, providing a novel strategy to replace the fossil‐involved nanocarbon. Abstract : Natural cellulose nanofibrils with abundant carboxyl and hydroxyl groups were employed as a porous framework and green dispersant for fabricating efficient NiFeNSC catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. The NiFeNSC catalyst exhibited a low overpotential (244 mV at 10 mA cm −2 ), a small Tafel slope (43.3 mV dec −1 ), and an excellent long‐term durability in 1.0 M KOH.