Ni-based heterogeneous catalyst from a designed molecular precursor for the efficient electrochemical water oxidation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Developing efficient electrocatalysts for water oxidation is crucial for renewable energy technologies.
• Single-source precursors offer a streamlined approach for synthesizing complex catalytic materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a bimetallic Ni-Mo alkoxide precursor.
• To utilize this precursor for solution-processed deposition of mixed-oxide layers.
• To evaluate the electrocatalytic performance of the resulting catalysts for water oxidation.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of bimetallic Ni-Mo alkoxide.
• Solution-processed deposition of mixed-oxide layers on conducting surfaces.
• In situ electrochemical potential cycling in 1 M NaOH.
• Electrocatalytic activity testing for water oxidation under varying pH conditions.

Main Results:

• The Ni-Mo alkoxide successfully served as a single-source precursor.
• In situ conversion yielded highly porous NiOx/NiOOH catalyst structures.
• The catalysts demonstrated high electrocatalytic activity for water oxidation.

Conclusions:

• The developed Ni-Mo precursor is effective for creating advanced water oxidation catalysts.
• The porous NiOx/NiOOH catalysts show promise for efficient water splitting applications.
• The catalysts maintain high activity across a range of pH values, indicating versatility.