Charge Carriers Research Articles

Boosting the Thermoelectric Properties of Ge0.94Sb0.06Te via Trojan Doping for High Output Power.

GeTe stands as a promising lead-free medium-temperature thermoelectric material that has garnered considerable attention in recent years. Suppressing carrier concentration by aliovalent doping in GeTe-based thermoelectrics is the most common optimization strategy due to the intrinsically high Ge vacancy concentration. However, it inevitably results in a significant deterioration of carrier mobility, which limits further improvement of the zT value. Thus, an effective Trojan doping strategy via CuScTe2 alloying is utilized to optimize carrier concentration without intensifying charge carrier scattering by increasing the solubility of Sc in the GeTe system. Because of the high doping efficiency of the Trojan doping strategy, optimized hole concentration and high mobility are obtained. Furthermore, CuScTe2 alloying leads to band convergence in GeTe, increasing the effective mass m* in (Ge0.84Sb0.06Te0.9)(CuScTe2)0.05 and thus significantly improving the Seebeck coefficient throughout the measured temperature range. Meanwhile, the achievement of the ultralow lattice thermal conductivity (κL ∼ 0.34 W m-1 K-1) at 623 K is attributed to dense point defects with mass/strain-field fluctuations. Ultimately, the (Ge0.84Sb0.06Te0.9)(CuScTe2)0.05 sample exhibits a desirable thermoelectric performance of zTmax ∼ 1.81 at 623 K and zTave ∼ 1.01 between 300 and 723 K. This study showcases an effective doping strategy for enhancing the thermoelectric properties of GeTe-based materials by decoupling phonon and carrier scattering.

Substance discrimination imaging derived from switchable soft and hard x‐ray sensing in direct x‐ray detector

AbstractSubstance discrimination beyond the shape feature is urgently desired for x‐ray imaging for enhancing target identification. With two x‐ray sources or stacked two detectors, the two‐energy‐channel x‐ray detection can discriminate substance density by normalizing the target thickness. Nevertheless, the artifacts, high radiation dose and difficulty in image alignment due to two sources or two detectors impede their widespread application. In this work, we report a single direct x‐ray detector with MAPbI3/MAPbBr3 heterojunction for switchable soft x‐ray (<20 keV) and hard x‐ray (>20 keV) detection under one x‐ray source. Systematic characterizations confirm soft and hard x‐ray deposit their energy in MAPbI3 and MAPbBr3 layer, respectively, while working voltages can control the collection of generated charge carriers in each layer for selective soft/hard x‐ray detection. The switching rate between soft and hard x‐ray detection mode reaches 100 Hz. Moreover, the detector possesses a moderate performance with ~50 nGy s−1 in limit‐of‐detection, ~8000 μC Gy−1 cm−2 in sensitivity and ~7 lp/mm in imaging resolution. By defining the attenuation coefficient ratio (𝜇L/𝜇H) as substance label, we effectively mitigate the influence of target thickness and successfully discriminate substances in the acquired x‐ray images.image

Phonon-limited mobility for electrons and holes in highly-strained silicon

Strain engineering is a widely used technique for enhancing the mobility of charge carriers in semiconductors, but its effect is not fully understood. In this work, we perform first-principles calculations to explore the variations of the mobility of electrons and holes in silicon upon deformation by uniaxial strain up to 2% in the [100] crystal direction. We compute the π11 and π12 electron piezoresistances based on the low-strain change of resistivity with temperature in the range 200 K to 400 K, in excellent agreement with experiment. We also predict them for holes which were only measured at room temperature. Remarkably, for electrons in the transverse direction, we predict a minimum room-temperature mobility about 1200 cm2 V−1 s−1 at 0.3% uniaxial tensile strain while we observe a monotonous increase of the longitudinal transport, reaching a value of 2200 cm2 V−1 s−1 at high strain. We confirm these findings experimentally using four-point bending measurements, establishing the reliability of our first-principles calculations. For holes, we find that the transport is almost unaffected by strain up to 0.3% uniaxial tensile strain and then rises significantly, more than doubling at 2% strain. Our findings open new perspectives to boost the mobility by applying a stress in the [100] direction. This is particularly interesting for holes for which shear strain was thought for a long time to be the only way to enhance the mobility.

A Review: Recent Advances of Piezoelectric Photocatalysis in the Environmental Fields.

Piezoelectric photocatalysis can effectively suppress the recombination of electron holes during the course of photocatalysis, which has been widely applied in environmental and energy catalysis. Its advantage is that when the piezoelectric effect happens, a built-in electric field is formed inside the catalyst, which improves the separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers and obtains more excellent photocatalytic performance. The efficient conversion of mechanical energy to chemical energy can be realized through the synergistic effect of the piezoelectric effect, and photocatalysis is greatly significant in solving the energy crisis and providing environmental protection. Therefore, we organized a more complete review to better understand the mechanism and system of piezoelectric photocatalysis. We briefly introduce the principle of the piezoelectric effect, the existing types of piezoelectric photocatalysts, the practical application scenarios, and the future challenges and feasible methods to improve catalytic efficiency. The purpose of this review is to help us broaden the idea of designing piezoelectric photocatalysts, clarify the future research direction, and put it into more fields of environmental protection and energy reuse.

Integrating the independent granular charge carriers into microbial fuel cell: From performance to mechanism analysis

The mutual benefits between electroactive bacteria (EAB) and non-EAB promote bioenergy recovery in microbial fuel cell (MFC), while competition between functional and non-functional bacteria on electrodes hinders further performance improvement. Introducing non-electrode conductive carriers into MFC may reduce contact resistance and alleviate interspecies competition. In this study, three-dimensional spherical biochar (BC) granules as independent microbial and charge carriers are introduced into anode chamber of an MFC without direct contact with the electrode (carbon cloth, CC) creating CC-BC-MFC. CC-BC-MFC achieves superior power density of 15 ± 1.4 W m−3 compared to CC-MFC (12 ± 1.4 W m−3) and CC/BC-MFC (10 ± 1.2 W m−3, where BC directly contacts CC). Higher effluent quality highlights the outstanding contribution of adequate biomass in effective containment treatment. Smaller internal resistance and higher coulombic efficiency are obtained in CC-BC-MFC by relieving microbial competition at anode. Syntrophic growth between Geobacter (69.4 %) and Methanosarcina (98 %) is established on BC in CC-BC-MFC, with high expression of Geobacter-associated pili genes and acetotrophic and CO2-reducing methanogenic genes associated with methanogens. Therefore, incorporating BC as flexible and independent charge carriers can reduce internal resistance, provide adequate habitat, alleviate microbial competition at anode, and offer a feasible strategy for MFC in wastewater treatment.

Self-passivation of Halide Interstitial Defects by Organic Cations in Hybrid Lead-Halide Perovskites: Ab Initio Quantum Dynamics.

Halide interstitial defects severely hinder the optoelectronic performance of metal halide perovskites, making research on their passivation crucial. We demonstrate, using ab initio nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations, that hydrogen vacancies (Hv) at both N and C atoms of the methylammonium (MA) cation in MAPbI3 efficiently passivate iodine interstitials (Ii), providing a self-passivation strategy for dealing with the Hv and Ii defects simultaneously. Hv at the N site (Hv-N) introduces a defect state into the valence band, while the state contributed by Hv at the C site (Hv-C) evolves from a shallow level at 0 K to a deep midgap state at ambient temperature, exhibiting a high environmental activity. Both Hv-N and Hv-C are strong Lewis bases, capable of capturing and passivating Ii defects. Hv-C is a stronger Lewis base, bonds with Ii better, and exhibits a more pronounced passivation effect. The charge carrier lifetimes in the passivated systems are significantly longer than in those containing either Hv or Ii, and even in pristine MAPbI3. Our demonstration of the Hv and Ii defect self-passivation in MAPbI3 suggests that systematic control of the relative concentrations of Hv and Ii can simultaneously eliminate both types of defects, thereby minimizing charge and energy losses. The demonstrated defect self-passivation strategy provides a promising means for defect control in organic-inorganic halide perovskites and related materials and deepens our atomistic understanding of defect chemistry and charge carrier dynamics in solar energy and optoelectronic materials.

Synthesis and scalable process for fabrication of Perovskite Solar Cells using organic and inorganic hole transport materials

The Organic Inorganic Lead Iodide perovskite material has emerged as a pioneer in being an active material for third-generation solar cells. Apart from the synthesis, the scalable mechanism which is being used for the deposition process, greatly influences the performance of the cell owing to its impact on the morphology, uniform thickness, and interface between two functional layers. This study briefly discusses the various deposition processes involved in assembling the layers of perovskite solar cells (PSC). Hole transport materials (HTM) are a crucial part of the PSC providing efficient transport of the charge carriers. However, the effect of organic and inorganic HTMs is highly pronounced in the PSCs. This study also discusses the effect of organic and inorganic HTM on the stability and efficiency of the sandwich-structured PSC.

High-Voltage Stable Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes Enabled by an Optoelectric-Tunable Sandwiched Nanostructure.

While metal halide light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) with unique optoelectronic properties are promising emitters for next-generation displays, their performance degrades rapidly due to severe ion migration during continuous operation, especially at high voltages. Here, we realize highly stable PeLEDs by designing inorganic dielectric/perovskite semiconductor emitter/organic dielectric sandwiched nanostructures to mitigate ion migration via regulating the electric field distribution. The bilateral cesium carbonate (Cs2CO3) and tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB) thin interlayers can not only largely reduce the voltage imposed on the perovskite layer by serving as series resistors and, thus, mitigate the ion migration but also regulate the charge carrier transfer to improve the radiative recombination efficiency. In addition, the underneath inorganic Cs2CO3 film also provides more heterogeneous nucleation sites for growing high-crystallinity perovskite crystals, while the atop TOAB with bifunctional groups (organic amino and Br- ions) refines the morphology and enhances the optical properties of the perovskite film. As a result, efficient and stable green PeLEDs based on such an optoelectric-tunable nanostructure exhibit extremely slow efficiency decay as the applied voltage increases, and the external quantum efficiencies were maintained over 10% at a high bias up to 20 V.

Highly Efficient Organic/Silicon Hybrid Solar Cells with a MoO3 Capping Layer.

Organic/Si hybrid solar cells have attracted considerable attention for their uncomplicated fabrication process and superior device efficiency, making them a promising candidate for sustainable energy applications. However, the efficient collection and separation of charge carriers at the organic/Si heterojunction interface are primarily hindered by the inadequate work function of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). Here, the application of a high-work-function MoO3 film onto the n-Si/PEDOT:PSS surface leads to a notable enhancement in the device's built-in potential. This enhancement results in the creation of an inversion layer near the n-Si surface and facilitates charge separation at the interface. Simultaneously, it inhibits charge recombination at the heterojunction interface. As a result, the champion PEDOT:PSS/Si solar cell, which incorporates a MoO3 interface layer, demonstrates an efficiency of 16.0% and achieves a high fill factor of 80.8%. These findings provide a straightforward and promising strategy for promoting the collection and transmission of charge carriers at the interface of photovoltaic devices.

Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting of In2S3 Photoanodes by Surface Modulation with 2D MoS2 Nanosheets.

Photoanodes with ample visible-light absorption and efficient photogenerated charge carrier dynamics expedite the actualization of high-efficiency photoelectrochemical water splitting (PEC-WS). Herein, we fabricated the heterojunction nanostructures of In2S3/MoS2 on indium-doped tin oxide glass substrates by indium sputtering and sulfurization, followed by the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition of 2D MoS2 nanosheets (NSs). The photocurrent density of In2S3/MoS2 was substantially enhanced and higher than those of pristine In2S3 and MoS2 NSs. This improvement is due to the MoS2 NSs extending the visible-light absorption range and the type-II heterojunction enhancing the separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. This work offers a promising avenue toward the development of an efficient photoanode for solar-driven PEC-WS.

A multifunctional platform based on ZIF-67 templated NiCo-LDH and Fe3O4 hollow spheres for photocatalytic CO2 conversion and supercapacitors

This work presented a series of hybrid materials F@P-LDHs exhibiting the core-shell structure with PPy as the interface modifier, explored as dual-functional materials for studying photocatalytic reduction of CO2 and electrochemical behaviors. F@P-LDHs served as photocatalysts, effectively convert CO2 into CO without using any sacrificial agents and photosensitizers via the gas-solid mode under the visible light irradiation. The generation rate of CO was as high as 10.32 μmol g−1h−1, which was 5.4 and 6.4 times higher than the original Fe3O4@PPy and NiCo-LDH. The well performance might be ascribed to the generation of type Z heterojunction with the interface modifier PPy, jointly accelerating the separation and migration of photo-generated charge carriers between Fe3O4@PPy and NiCo-LDH. Besides, F@P-LDHs were also developed as supercapacitors, and their electrochemical behaviors were investigated. Their good electrochemical performances were attributed to the synergistic effect among hollow Fe3O4 microspheres, polypyrrole and NiCo-LDH. Therefore, as dual-functional materials, the hybrid materials have great potential in the field of CO2 conversion and supercapacitors.

Submicron-scale Au-decorated TiO2 mesoporous spheres for enhanced photon harvesting in DSSCs through near-field enhancement, light scattering, and dye loading

Light harvesting materials are crucial for capturing the sunlight in a device such as a solar cell for better efficiency. In this study, we developed high surface area, submicron-sized TiO2 spheres (MTS) incorporated with anisotropic Au nanoparticles (Au_MTS) to create highly light-absorbing photoanodes for enhanced dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) efficiency. The high surface area of MTS (∼125 m2/g) allows for increased dye-loading, while their submicron size (150–300 nm) provides superior light-scattering capabilities for significantly enhancing the photoanode’s light absorption. Furthermore, incorporating of anisotropic Au nanoparticles enables broadband surface plasmon resonance (SPR) coupling, synergistically boosting photon harvesting in the Au_MTS photoanodes. The interconnected tiny TiO2 nanoparticle network in MTS supports charge carrier generation and transport, providing ample sites for dye adsorption and efficient electron pathways. Au_MTS with varying amounts of Au nanoparticles synthesized by a greener microwave-assisted synthesis method and DSSC devices were fabricated and compared with devices made from pristine MTS and P25 nanoparticles. The optimal Au_MTS device, containing ∼1.3 wt% Au nanoparticles, achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of ∼7.7%, representing improvements of ∼40% and ∼60% over pristine MTS (PCE of ∼5.2%) and P25 nanoparticles (PCE of ∼4.71%), respectively. Overall, this work demonstrates the effectiveness of plasmonic mesoporous photoanodes in enhancing DSSC performance through improved photo response, light scattering, and dye loading.

The Application of Ultrasound Pre-Treatment in Low-Temperature Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanorods

Zinc oxide, due to its unique physicochemical properties, including dual piezoelectric and semiconductive ones, demonstrates a high application potential in various fields, with a particular focus on nanotechnology. Among ZnO nanoforms, nanorods are gaining particular interest. Due to their ability to efficiently transport charge carriers and photoelectric properties, they demonstrate significant potential in energy storage and conversion, as well as photovoltaics. They can be prepared via various methods; however, most of them require large energy inputs, long reaction times, or high-cost equipment. Hence, new methods of ZnO nanorod fabrication are currently being sought out. In this paper, an ultrasound-supported synthesis of ZnO nanorods with zinc acetate as a zinc precursor has been described. The fabrication of nanorods included the treatment of the precursor solution with ultrasounds, wherein various sonication times were employed to verify the impact of the sonication process on the effectiveness of ZnO nanorod synthesis and the sizes of the obtained nanostructures. The morphology of the obtained ZnO nanorods was imaged via a scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, while the particle size distribution within the precursor suspensions was determined by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS). Additionally, the dynamic viscosity of precursor suspensions was also verified. It was demonstrated that ultrasounds positively affect ZnO nanorod synthesis, yielding longer nanostructures through even reactant distribution. Longer nanorods were obtained as a result of short sonication (1–3 min), wherein prolonged treatment with ultrasounds (4–5 min) resulted in obtaining shorter nanorods. Importantly, the application of ultrasounds increased particle homogeneity within the precursor suspension by disintegrating particle agglomerates. Moreover, it was demonstrated that ultrasonic treatment reduces the dynamic viscosity of precursor suspension, facilitating faster particle diffusion and promoting a more uniform growth of longer ZnO nanorods. Hence, it can be concluded that ultrasounds constitute a promising solution in obtaining homogeneous ZnO nanorods, which is in line with the principles of green chemistry.

Rod-shaped Cd0.8Mn0.2S and Co3O4 quantum dots construct S-scheme heterojunction for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production is one of the key pathways to achieving a zero-carbon economy. Cd0.8Mn0.2S has significant potential for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, but it faces serious challenges due to the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. To address this issue, we successfully coupled Co3O4 QDs onto Cd0.8Mn0.2S nanorods via ultrasonic self-assembly, constructing a S-scheme heterojunction to reduce charge carrier recombination rates. In this configuration, Co3O4 QDs serves as the electron donor, while Cd0.8Mn0.2S act as the electron acceptor. The Cd0.8Mn0.2S/Co3O4 QDs structure creates a closely spaced interface, providing the shortest possible path for electron transfer. Under 10 W white light irradiation, the Cd0.8Mn0.2S/Co3O4 QDs composite photocatalyst exhibited remarkable hydrogen evolution activity, achieving a hydrogen production rate of 33.39 mmol⋅g⁻¹⋅h⁻¹. This S-scheme heterojunction strategy lays the foundation for the structural design of highly active visible-light photocatalysts.

Improved Charge Recombination Efficiency in Organic Light‐Emitting Transistors via Luminescent Radicals

AbstractLuminescent radicals are attracting attention as emitters in electroluminescent devices thanks to the exploitation of doublet excitons. Recent studies reveal that exciton formation in radical organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) primarily occurs through a charge trapping mechanism. Although typically detrimental for OLEDs, this might be a key process to elucidate light emission in organic light‐emitting transistors (OLETs). Here, a unipolar n‐type architecture suitable for the implementation of radical emitters is introduced, designed based on computational calculations. The operation of the as‐realized devices incorporating the newly synthesized [2,6‐dichloro‐4‐(2,6‐dimethoxyphenyl)phenyl](3,5‐dichloro‐4‐pyridyl) (2,4,6‐trichlorophenyl)methyl radical is investigated via transient electroluminescence measurements to demonstrate the occurrence of long‐living emission ascribed to the charge trapping mechanisms. Moreover, a comprehensive understanding of the processes governing radical‐OLET is obtained by recording complete 2D maps of both optical and electrical response of the device as a function of applied voltages. Notably, the trapping of electrons by radical moieties is demonstrated to generate a negative charge density in the emissive layer that facilitates holes to be injected: increasing the balance of opposite charge carriers, a tenfold enhancement of the external quantum efficiency (EQE) at the proper source‐drain and source‐gate voltage conditions is reported to reach a maximum EQE value of 0.2%.

Structural and morphological studies of g-C3N4-functionalized MWCNTs nanocomposite for sunlight-responsive photocatalytic activity

Photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants has been proven to be one of the greatest economical and efficient techniques to address environmental pollution problems. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/g-C3N4 (GCN) nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized by a hydrothermal process aided by ultrasound to produce active photocatalysts. The effective synthesis of GCN, MWCNTs, and MWCNTs/GCN NCs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The fabrication of GCN nanosheets (NSs), the nanotubular structure of MWCNTs, and a network of neuron-like structures for MWCNTs/GCN NCs were all revealed by structural and morphological characterization. The elemental mapping of NCs containing the suitable quantity of MWCNTs revealed a uniform distribution of the sample's component elements. When the optical properties of the fabricated nanomaterials were examined by employing UV–visible spectroscopy, the results revealed a blue shift (a shift of maximum absorption to the UV region), which suggests that the addition of MWCNTs increased the band-gap energy. The behaviour of e––h+ pair recombination was revealed by measuring the charge carrier movement and trapping efficiency using photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Crystal violet (CV) dye was photocatalytically degraded using prepared NCs in the presence of sunlight, and the synergistic effects of GCN and MWCNTs were examined. With a degradation efficiency of 99.32 %, MWCNTs/GCN NCs demonstrated the best sunlight-irradiated photocatalytic activity for CV degradation. The degradation of CV was discovered to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics. Throughout five consecutive studies, the NCs demonstrated the highest levels of catalytic efficiency and recyclability, with 5 % reduced degrading activities. The trapping tests showed that the primary reactive species involved in the breakdown of CV were the •O2– and •OH radicals.

Experimental Detection of Topological Electronic State and Large Linear Magnetoresistance in SrSn4 Superconductor

AbstractWhile recent experiments confirm the existence of hundreds of topological electronic materials, only a few exhibit the coexistence of superconductivity (SC) and a topological electronic state. These compounds attract significant attention in forefront research because of the potential for the existence of topological SC, paving the way for future technological advancements. SrSn4 is known for exhibiting unusual SC below the transition temperature (TC) of 4.8 K. Recent theory predicts a topological electronic state in this compound, which is yet to be confirmed by experiments. Systematic and detailed studies of the magnetotransport properties of SrSn4 and its Fermi surface characterizations are also absent. For the first time, a quantum oscillation study reveals a nontrivial 𝝅‐Berry phase, very light effective mass, and high quantum mobility of charge carriers in SrSn4. Magnetotransport experiment unveils large linear transverse magnetoresistance (TMR) of more than 1200% at 5 K and 14 T. Angle‐dependent transport experiments detect anisotropic and fourfold symmetric TMR, with the maximum value (≈2000%) occurring when the angle between the magnetic field and the crystallographic b‐axis is 45°. The results suggest that SrSn4 is the first topological material with SC above the boiling point of helium that displays such high magnetoresistance.

Influence of non-metals doping on the structural, electronic, optical, and photocatalytic properties of rutile TiO2 based on density functional theory computations

This study investigates the influence of non-metal doping (C, F, N, and S) on the structural, electronic, and optical properties of rutile TiO2 using Hubbard-corrected density functional theory (DFT) within the Quantum ESPRESSO code. Rutile TiO2 is a promising material for environmental remediation and renewable energy applications. However, it has a large bandgap of 3.03 eV, which confines its use to UV light. By substituting oxygen atoms with a single dopant atom, we aim to shift the absorption edge toward the visible spectrum. Our findings reveal that doping with C, N, and S results in a redshift of the bandgap, while F doping does not exhibit this effect. The imaginary part of the dielectric function indicates shifted absorption edges for C, N, and S-doped TiO2, making them suitable for photocatalytic applications. Additionally, an increased refractive index after doping suggests the presence of excess charge carriers that affect light propagation. This work provides valuable insights for experimentalists exploring non-metal doping influences on rutile TiO2 for photocatalysis.

Optimizing the aggregate structure and charge carrier transport performance of D‐A conjugated polymer films using nonpolar solvents

Optimizing the aggregate structure and charge carrier transport performance of D‐A conjugated polymer films using nonpolar solvents

Ce-doped NiCo-layered double hydroxide based self-supporting tremella-shaped nanoflower heterostructure as efficient electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction

NiCo-layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) catalysts, which indicate a profound prospect of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under alkaline conditions, are facing great challenges in terms of low electrical conductivity, restricted by poor conductivity, limited electrochemical reaction sites, and low-density of edge sites. The authors developed a simple and convenient in-situ one-pot self-assembly method. The Ce-doped defective NiCo-LDH hexagonal nanosheets and nitrogen-doped graphene fabricated the NiCoCe-LDH/RNF electrocatalyst on the nickel foam (NF) substrate, which demonstrated excellent OER activity under alkaline conditions, only needed 299 mV overvoltage to achieve 50 mA cm−2 current intensity, could last for 6 hours at 20 mA cm−2. The highly active OER benefited from the structural advantages of the novelty three-dimensional array structure. The novel geometric structure of tremella-shaped nanoflower integrated with curved nanosheets and curled edges loaded on NF provides more electrochemical reaction sites for intermediate coordination. The nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide accommodated better interaction between active materials and charge carriers, enhancing the conductivity and electron transfer performance of nanostructures. The effective synergistic between the heterostructures promoted the excellent OER electrocatalytic activity of NiFeCe-LDH/RNF nanocomposites. DFT calculations at the atomic level of pristine and Ce-doped NiCo-LDH exhibited that Ce-doping can reduce the Gibbs free energy of the potential-determining step and improve the catalytic activity of OER. This work has broadened the horizons for developing simple and highly available OER electrocatalysts.