Core–Shell Structured NiFeSn@NiFe (Oxy)Hydroxide Nanospheres from an Electrochemical Strategy for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction. Issue 10 (28th March 2020) - Chen, Mingxing
Abstract: Efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are highly desirable because of the intrinsically sluggish kinetics of OER. Herein, core–shell structured nanospheres of NiFe x Sn@NiFe (oxy)hydroxide (denoted as NiFe x Sn‐A) are prepared as active OER catalysts by a facile electrochemical strategy, which includes electrodeposition of NiFe x Sn alloy nanospheres on carbon cloth (CC) and following anodization. The alloy core of NiFe x Sn could promote charge transfer, and the amorphous shell of NiFe (oxy)hydroxide is defect‐rich and nanoporous due to the selective electrochemical etching of Sn in alkaline medium. The optimized catalyst of NiFe0.5 Sn‐A displays a remarkable OER performance with a low overpotential of 260 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA cm −2, a small Tafel slope of 50 mV dec −1, a high turnover frequency of 0.194 s −1 at an overpotential of 300 mV, and a robust durability. Further characterizations indicate that the superior OER performance of the core–shell structured NiFe0.5 Sn‐A nanospheres might originate from abundant active sites and small charge transfer resistance. This work brings a new perspective to the design and synthesis of core–shell structured nanospheres for electrocatalysis through a facile electrochemical strategy. Abstract : Through a facile electrochemical strategy including the process of electrodeposition and anodization, core–shell structured NiFeSn@NiFe (oxy)hydroxide nanospheres could be easily prepared with good conductivity, abundant active sites, high electrochemically active surface area, enhanced oxygen vacancy defects, and controllable chemical composition, which demonstrate high activity and long‐term durability for electrocatalytic water oxidation in alkaline condition.