Tuning d–p Orbital Hybridization of NiMoO4@Mo15Se19/NiSe2 Core‐Shell Nanomaterials via Asymmetric Coordination Interaction Enables the Water Oxidation Process

Abstract

AbstractThe electrocatalytic performance of MoNi‐based nanomaterials undergo selenization has garnered significant interest due to their modified electronic structure, while still posses certain challenges for obtained bimetallic selenides. Here, a novel MoNi‐based electrocatalyst of NiMoO4@Mo15Se19/NiSe2 core‐shell nanomaterials is constructed to promote the desorption of OOH* which can facilitate the water oxidation process. NiMoO4@Mo15Se19/NiSe2 core‐shell nanoarrays show that the “cores” are mainly NiMoO4 nanorods while the “shells” are the bimetallic selenides nanoflakes, which are super architectures that can expand more active sites and accelerate the electron transfer. Moreover, the hybridization interaction between Ni 3d, Mo 4d, and Se 4p orbitals leads to an asymmetric distribution of electric clouds, which decreases the adsorption energy and transformation of oxygen‐containing species. Electrochemical data displays that the overpotentials of NiMoO4@Mo15Se19/NiSe2 core‐shell nanomaterials are only 195 mV, 220 mV, and 224 mV for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline freshwater, alkaline simulated seawater, and alkaline natural seawater. The current density decay is negligible after 100 h stability at about 1.46 V with a three‐electrode system in alkaline natural seawater. The low cost and the unique MoNi‐based bimetallic selenides in this work provide a more constructive solution for designing efficient and stable OER catalysts in the future.