Stabilize the (Ni, Fe)OOH Active Phase through Interfacial Engineering for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction under...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Nickel-iron oxyhydroxides (Ni, Fe)OOH derived from layered double hydroxides (LDHs) show high oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity in alkaline media.
• However, their stability is limited in corrosive electrolytes, hindering practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer novel (Ni, Fe)OOH/2D heterostructures for improved OER activity and stability.
• To investigate the impact of interface engineering on the electronic structure and catalytic performance of OER catalysts.

Main Methods:

• Integration of active (Ni, Fe)OOH with 2D materials (graphene, g-C3N4) via interface engineering.
• Computational simulations (e.g., Bader charge analysis) to understand electronic structure and reaction mechanisms.
• Evaluation of OER performance in neutral to alkaline conditions.

Main Results:

• The (Ni, Fe)OOH/2D heterostructures exhibited superior OER activity with lower overpotential compared to NiFe-LDHs and (Ni, Fe)OOH.
• Electron transfer from 2D materials to (Ni, Fe)OOH upshifted the d-band center, optimizing adsorption energetics.
• Weakened bonding of OER rate-determining step intermediates and strengthened product binding were observed.

Conclusions:

• Interface-engineered (Ni, Fe)OOH/2D heterostructures offer enhanced OER performance and broader pH adaptability.
• Atomic-level design of heterostructures is crucial for developing advanced electrocatalysts.
• This work provides a pathway for designing high-performance OER catalysts with improved stability.