Fluorine anion-enriched nickel hydroxyl oxide as an efficient oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalyst

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Efficient electrocatalysts are essential for water electrolysis.
• Nickel-based materials show promise but require optimization for enhanced performance.
• Fluoride doping is an emerging strategy to improve catalyst properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize fluoride-enriched nickel hydroxyl oxide (F-NHO) mesocrystalline microspheres.
• To investigate the catalytic performance of F-NHO for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
• To understand the structure-property relationships governing the enhanced OER activity.

Main Methods:

• Facile hydrothermal hydrolysis of a nickel precursor.
• Ammonium fluoride (NH4F) mediated synthesis.
• Characterization of material structure, surface properties, and doping levels.
• Electrochemical testing for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance.

Main Results:

• Successfully prepared F-NHO mesocrystalline microspheres with a quasi-monocrystalline structure.
• Achieved a high fluoride anion doping level in the F-NHO.
• Demonstrated superhydrophilic surface properties.
• Exhibited high catalytic efficiency for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Conclusions:

• The quasi-monocrystalline structure, superhydrophilic surface, and high F- anion doping level of F-NHO contribute to its excellent OER catalytic activity.
• F-NHO is a promising electrocatalyst for efficient water electrolysis.
• This work offers a new avenue for designing high-performance catalysts via anion enrichment.