Nickel iron carbonate hydroxide hydrate decorated with CeOx for highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Highly active, durable, and inexpensive nanostructured catalysts are crucial for achieving efficiently and economically electrochemical water splitting. In recent years, the introduction of cerium (Ce) into electrocatalysts is an effective way to improve the performance of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report a cerium oxide deposited nickel iron carbonate hydroxide hydrate (NiFeCH(Ce)) on the carbon fiber paper through two-step hydrothermal/electrodeposition approach. The NiFeCH(Ce) not only exhibits a remarkably improved OER performance with an overpotential of 252 mV at a current density of 100 mA cm−2, but also possesses a small Tafel slope of 59 mV dec−1, the both values superior to the most non-noblemetal-based OER electrocatalysts reported. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis shows that the super OER electrocatalysis performance of the NiFeCH(Ce) was related intensely with the introduction of Ce ions, which not only richer surface defects and higher oxygen adsorption capacity, but also provide more effective charge and mass transfer between intermediates and catalysts, making a great contribution to the OER enhancement.