In situ growth of NiMoO4-C nanocomposite and electrodeposition of multi-metal selenide to enhance oxygen evolution efficiency in alkaline solution

Abstract

This study primarily centers on the fabrication of NiMoO4-C@Ni(FeMo)-Se composite electrocatalysts directly onto nickel foam substrates through a hydrothermal followed by electrodeposition technique. Through this method, the carbon submicron sphere structure, interlinked by NiMoO4 nanorods, undergoes further optimization, resulting in a more refined NiMoO4-C@Ni(FeMo)-Se core-shell structure. The NiMoO4-C@ Ni(FeMo)-Se /NF composite electrode exhibited exceptional OER catalytic activity in a 1 M KOH solution, with an overpotential of merely 228 mV at a current density of 50 mA·cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 35.9 mV·dec−1, significantly superior to that of the blank NF. Additionally, a 40-hour stability test at a current density of 50 mA·cm−2 demonstrated that the potential remained nearly constant, highlighting the exceptional OER activity and long-term stability of the synthesized catalyst. Moreover, in the overall water splitting process, the utilization of a dual-electrode NiMoO4‐C@Ni(FeMo)‐Se/NF||Pt‐C/NF electrolytic cell demands a remarkably low potential of 1.48 V to achieve a current density of 10 mA·cm−2, demonstrating exceptional electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability. Therefore, this study provides a promising route for the application of hydrogen production from alkaline aqueous solutions.