Fe-Mediated Electron Transfer in an Amorphous/Crystalline Heterostructure Boosts Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• In-situ catalyst growth can improve mechanical stability but often limits atomic-level control for enhanced catalytic activity.
• Tuning interfacial environments and electronic structures is crucial for boosting intrinsic catalyst performance, presenting a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a hierarchical Ni3S2-Fe/NF catalyst with an optimized interfacial environment for improved electrocatalytic performance.
• To investigate the role of an amorphous Fe interlayer in modulating electronic structure and facilitating charge transfer.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a hierarchical Ni3S2-Fe/NF catalyst via interfacial engineering.
• Utilizing spectroscopic characterization to analyze interfacial properties and electron transfer mechanisms.
• Evaluating the catalyst's performance and stability in oxygen evolution reactions (OER).

Main Results:

• The amorphous Fe interlayer acts as an electron-conducting bridge, enhancing intercomponent charge transfer through interfacial polarization and electron redistribution.
• The engineered catalyst demonstrated significantly improved stability, exceeding that of previously reported Ni3S2-based catalysts.
• The catalyst achieved enhanced oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance.

Conclusions:

• Interfacial electronic modulation is critical for enhancing electrocatalysis, with amorphous Fe interlayers proving effective as electron-conducting bridges.
• The developed Ni3S2-Fe/NF catalyst shows promise for practical applications requiring high durability and efficiency in OER.
• This study provides valuable insights into designing advanced heterostructures for efficient electrocatalysis.