Short-time potentiostatic assisted borate to induce the generation of ultrathin NiFe LDH active phase for industrial-level water oxidation

Abstract

Self-supported NiFe-based oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts with high activity and durability are essential for the industrialization of green hydrogen. Herein, Boron-interfered NiFe LDH nanosheets (B2-NiFe-(a-10)) with abundant wrinkle structure are prepared by introducing nonmetallic sources into the surface reconstruction of layered double hydroxide (NiFe LDH) through a novel short-time potential constant activation strategy. It enhances interactions with the electrolyte, decreases Arrhenius activation energy (Ea), accelerates efficient charge transfer and O2 escape rate. The as-reconstructed B2-NiFe-(a-10) exhibits outstanding alkaline OER activity with an ultralow overpotential of 290 mV at 100 mA cm−2 and excellent durability (100 h). Additionally, density functional theory calculations further reveal that the interaction optimizes the adsorption of oxygenated intermediates (*OH→*O), induces the center of the d-band toward the Fermi energy level, and lowers the dissociation barrier of H2O. Moreover, the anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) achieves a current density of 1 A cm−2 at 1.97 V.