Stainless Steel Mesh-Supported NiS Nanosheet Array as Highly Efficient Catalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for energy conversion technologies.
• Development of efficient and cost-effective OER electrocatalysts is a significant challenge.
• Nickel-based materials show promise but often require optimization for enhanced performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize Nickel(II) sulfide (NiS) nanosheets grown on stainless steel (SLS) meshes for OER.
• To evaluate the electrocatalytic performance of the NiS@SLS composite for the oxygen evolution reaction.
• To compare the performance of NiS@SLS with existing state-of-the-art OER catalysts.

Main Methods:

• Facile one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of NiS nanosheets on SLS meshes.
• Electrochemical characterization including overpotential and Tafel slope measurements.
• Comparison of catalytic activity against precious metal catalysts like IrO2 and RuO2.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized 10 nm thick, 200 nm sized NiS nanosheets on SLS meshes.
• Achieved excellent electrical contact between NiS nanosheets and the conductive SLS substrate.
• Demonstrated superior OER catalytic activity with a low overpotential of 297 mV at 11 mA·cm(-2) and a Tafel slope of 47 mV·dec(-1).

Conclusions:

• The NiS@SLS electrocatalyst offers a highly efficient and cost-effective alternative for OER.
• The unique nanostructure and substrate integration contribute to enhanced catalytic performance.
• This material shows competitive performance compared to precious metal catalysts, indicating its potential for large-scale applications.