Durable Pt-Decorated NiFe-LDH for High-Current-Density Electrocatalytic Water Splitting Under Alkaline Conditions

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Sustainable Energy

Background:

• Efficient and durable catalysts are crucial for sustainable hydrogen production via water electrolysis.
• Nickel foam (NF) substrates offer potential for catalyst development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-performance bifunctional electrocatalyst for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions.
• To investigate the synergistic effects between platinum (Pt) and nickel-iron layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH).

Main Methods:

• A corrosion-mediated approach was used to synthesize Pt-modified NiFe layered double hydroxide (Pt-NiFeO_xH_y@NiFe-LDH) on a nickel foam substrate.
• The catalyst's hierarchical architecture, defect sites, and Pt distribution were characterized.
• Electrochemical performance for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was evaluated in alkaline media.

Main Results:

• The Pt-NiFeO_xH_y@NiFe-LDH catalyst exhibited low overpotentials for HER (29 mV at 10 mA·cm^-2) and efficient OER (252 mV at 100 mA·cm^-2).
• The catalyst demonstrated excellent activity and stability in alkaline seawater and concentrated alkaline solutions.
• The integrated electrode system showed low operating voltages (1.42 V at 10 mA·cm^-2) and long-term stability.

Conclusions:

• The developed Pt-NiFeO_xH_y@NiFe-LDH catalyst presents a scalable and cost-effective pathway for high-efficiency bifunctional electrocatalysts.
• The study highlights the importance of interfacial synergy between Pt and defective NiFe-LDH for water-splitting catalysis.