Realizing the synergy of interface engineering and surface reconstruction in Ni(OH)2 for superior water oxidation

作者：Li, Yueying; Dai, Chen; Jiang, Xin; Liu, Xin; Li, Yawei; Tie, Shengnian

来源：Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2023, 936: 168175.

DOI：10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.168175

• Ni(OH)(2)
• Surface reconstruction
• Interface engineering
• Oxygen evolution reaction
• Electrocatalysts

Exploring cost-effective and stable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of great importance to converting renewable electricity into fuels. Herein, we demonstrate the preparation of phytic acid-iron complex (PAFe) decorated Co3O4/Ni(OH)2 core-shell heterojunction using a hydrothermal-sol-vothermal combined with the typical coordination chemistry technique. The Co3O4 nanowires increase the electrical conductivity and inhibit the agglomeration of Ni(OH)2 nanosheets. The core-shell structure with a tightly contacted interface can regulate the interfacial electronic structure and enhance electron transfer ability. More importantly, the leach of PA under OER operation benefits the dissolution and re-adsorption of Fe species on the surface of the catalyst. The formed amorphous and active multi-metallic oxyhydroxides accelerate the catalytic reaction kinetics. As a result, the Co3O4/Ni(OH)2 @PAFe exhibits excellent OER performance with a low overpotential of 230 mV at 10 mA cm-2 (reduced by 84 mV compared with that of the original Ni(OH)2), a small Tafel slope of 43 mV dec-1, and prominent long-term durability. This research offers a new sight to enhance the catalytic performance of hydroxides and makes for future energy storage and conversion systems.