Phosphorus-doped cobalt-iron oxyhydroxide with untrafine nanosheet structure enable efficient oxygen evolution...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Developing stable and inexpensive electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution is crucial for efficient water splitting.
• Existing catalysts often face challenges with stability, cost, and performance.
• Two-dimensional (2D) materials offer unique advantages in catalysis due to high surface area and efficient transport.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer cost-efficient, 2D phosphorus-doped CoFe oxyhydroxide nanosheets (CoFeP NSs).
• To evaluate the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity and chemical stability of the synthesized CoFeP NSs.
• To investigate the role of phosphorus doping and 2D nanosheet structure in enhancing catalytic performance.

Main Methods:

• A facile one-pot synthesis method was employed to fabricate 2D CoFeP NSs.
• Electrochemical characterization was performed in 1 M KOH solution to assess OER activity.
• Key performance metrics including overpotential and Tafel slope were measured.

Main Results:

• The engineered CoFeP NSs exhibited exceptional OER activity and chemical stability.
• A current density of 10 mA cm⁻² was achieved at a low overpotential of 305 mV.
• An ultra-small Tafel slope of 49.6 mV/dec indicated efficient catalytic kinetics, attributed to modulated active sites by P doping and enhanced mass/electron transport.

Conclusions:

• The 2D P-doped CoFe oxyhydroxide nanosheets demonstrate superior electrocatalytic performance for OER.
• The study presents a promising, cost-efficient catalyst for water splitting.
• This work holds significant potential for advancing environment and energy-related technologies.