P-Induced Permeation of Nickel into WO₃ Octahedra to Form a Synergistic Catalyst for Urea Oxidation

Small-molecule induction can lead to the oriented migration of metal elements, which affords functional materials with synergistic components. In this study, phosphating nickel foam (NF)-supported octahedral WO₃ with phosphine affords P-WO₃ /NF electrocatalyst. Ni is found to form Ni-P bonds that migrate from NF to WO₃ under the induction of P, resulting in the complex oxides W_1.3 Ni_0.24 O₄ and Ni₂ P₂ O₇ in the particle interior and nickel phosphide on the octahedral grain surface. The catalytic activity of P-WO₃ /NF in the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is improved by synergistic action of the components in the synthesized hybrid particles. A current density of 10 mA cm^-2 can be reached at a potential of 1.305 V, the double layer capacitance of the catalyst is significantly increased, and the electron transfer impedance in catalytic UOR is reduced. This work demonstrates that small-molecule induction is suitable for constructing co-catalysts with complex components in a simple protocol, which provides a new route for the design of highly efficient urea oxidation electrocatalysts.