Self-supported electrode Fe35Co20Ni20Mo20Si5 alloy ribbon: Electronic structure modulating oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Non-precious metals as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts for water-splitting purposes has recently attracted extensive attention. However, alloy ribbons of non-precious metals as self-supported electrodes for OER electrocatalysts have rarely been reported. Here we report a melt-spinning method to prepare an Fe35Co20Ni20Mo20Si5 alloy ribbon, which serves as a self-supporting electrode OER electrocatalysts by dealloyed etching. The etching expands the active surface area of the alloy ribbon which increases the abundant active sites. The experimental results showed that the electronic structure of FeMoSi on the ribbons surface excellently facilitates the OER process. The electrocatalytic activity test showed that the etched alloy ribbon exhibited excellent OER activity in 1 M KOH alkaline solution, with an overpotential of only 260 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, a Tafel slope as low as 37.9 mV dec−1 and a stability of up to 90 h without decay. This work serves as a promising guide for the use of alloy ribbons as a highly efficient and self-supported electrocatalyst.