A multi-interfacial FeOOH@NiCo₂O₄ heterojunction as a highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Sustainable Energy

Background:

• Electrocatalytic water splitting is crucial for sustainable energy production.
• Developing cost-effective electrocatalysts is a primary objective for efficient water splitting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a novel multi-interfacial FeOOH@NiCo2O4 hybrid nanoflower electrocatalyst.
• To investigate the electrocatalytic performance of the synthesized heterostructure for water splitting.

Main Methods:

• A two-step hydrothermal reaction was employed to prepare the FeOOH@NiCo2O4 hybrid nanoflowers.
• The electrocatalytic activity was evaluated under hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) conditions.
• Performance was assessed in a two-electrode water splitting system.

Main Results:

• The FeOOH@NiCo2O4 heterostructure provides abundant electroactive sites and enhanced charge transfer rates due to its nanointerfaces.
• The catalyst exhibits outstanding electrocatalytic performance for both HER and OER.
• In a two-electrode system, it achieved a cell voltage of 1.58 V at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 for overall water splitting.

Conclusions:

• The facile hydrothermal method enables the construction of multi-interfacial heterostructures as bifunctional electrocatalysts.
• The FeOOH@NiCo2O4 hybrid nanoflowers show significant potential for efficient and cost-effective electrocatalytic water splitting.
• This work offers a feasible route for developing advanced heterostructure electrocatalysts.