3D Self-Supported Porous NiO@NiMoO₄ Core-Shell Nanosheets for Highly Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Developing efficient electrocatalysts is crucial for energy conversion technologies.
• Nanostructured materials offer high surface areas and unique properties for catalysis.
• Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a key process in water splitting and metal-air batteries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel 3D self-supported porous NiO@NiMoO4 core-shell nanosheets.
• To investigate the structure-property relationships for improved electrocatalytic activity.
• To evaluate the performance of the synthesized material for the oxygen evolution reaction.

Main Methods:

• Facile stepwise hydrothermal synthesis on nickel foam.
• Characterization of the core-shell nanosheet architecture.
• Electrochemical testing, including Tafel plot analysis.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized 3D porous NiO@NiMoO4 core-shell nanosheets.
• The architecture prevents agglomeration and provides efficient ion/electron transport.
• Achieved a low Tafel slope of 32 mV dec⁻¹ and an overpotential of 0.28 V at 10 mA·cm⁻² for OER.

Conclusions:

• The NiO@NiMoO4 core-shell nanosheets exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity for OER.
• The unique nanostructure enhances conductivity, active sites, and oxygen vacancy concentration.
• This material shows great potential for applications in energy storage and conversion devices.