Local electronic structure modulation of NiVP@NiFeV-LDH electrode for high-efficiency oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

The emergence of alternative sustainable energy technologies has stimulated the utilisation of high-efficiency, cost-effective electrodes for renewable energy conversion. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is critical for water splitting and rechargeable metal-air batteries. However, the identification of efficient and robust non-noble-metal-based OER electrocatalysts remains a major hurdle for large-scale hydrogen production. Herein, NiVP@NiFeV-LDH heterojunction catalysts were constructed by phosphidation and hydrothermal processing, because OER activity can be improved by coupling NiVP and NiFeV-LDH. NiVP@NiFeV-LDH/NF exhibited remarkable OER performance with an ultralow overpotential of 317 mV at a current density of 100 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 83.0 mV dec−1 in an alkaline environment. The high efficiency of NiVP@NiFeV-LDH/NF is attributed to increased mass and electron transport because of array structure formation and interfacial electronic structure optimisation, respectively. This work provides a novel approach for augmenting the OER performance of non-noble-metal-based electrocatalysts for energy conversion applications.