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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
09:18
Simple Methods for the Preparation of Non-noble Metal Bulk-electrodes for Electrocatalytic Applications
Published on: June 21, 2017
Nonprecious Core-Shell Catalysts for Durable High-Performance Water Electrolysis
Qihao Li1, Meixue Hu1, Saptarshi Das2
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology,Cornell University,Ithaca,New York 14853,United States.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|June 1, 2026
Summary
Developing cost-effective, non-precious metal electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial. This study introduces a novel Ni@FeCo catalyst with a metallic Ni core and an active oxide shell, demonstrating high performance and stability in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs).
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Platinum-group metals (PGMs) are effective electrocatalysts but are expensive, hindering large-scale applications.
- Alkaline systems allow for cheaper transition metal catalysts, but achieving high stability for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with non-PGMs remains difficult.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a cost-effective, durable, and highly active non-precious metal electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
- To investigate the structural and electronic properties of a novel Ni@FeCo catalyst under operating conditions in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs).
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of metallic Ni catalysts with a Co- and Fe-rich shell (Ni@FeCo).
- Electrochemical testing in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs).
- Operando X-ray characterizations, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) to analyze catalyst structure and composition.
Main Results:
- The Ni@FeCo catalyst achieved excellent performance in AEMWEs, reaching 10 A cm-2 at 2.18 V.
- Operando characterizations confirmed the formation of an active Ni-Fe-Co spinel oxide shell while the Ni core remained metallic.
- The catalyst demonstrated long-term stability, operating continuously for over 1700 hours.
Conclusions:
- The developed Ni@FeCo metal-core/oxide-shell heterostructure is a promising non-precious metal electrocatalyst for OER.
- This catalyst design offers efficient electron transport and high OER activity with remarkable stability in AEMWEs.
- The study presents a viable strategy for designing advanced nonprecious metal electrocatalysts for water electrolysis.
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