FeOx clusters decorated hcp Ni nanosheets as inverse electrocatalyst to stimulate excellent oxygen evolution performance

Tuning the crystal phase of metals and constructing the metal-oxide interface provide a new way to improve oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics. Herein, we developed a room-temperature plasma topology conversion of Fe3+ doping Ni(OH)2 nanosheets to porous hcp Ni engineered by FeOx clusters. X-ray absorption fine spectra established that they were formed via Ni-O-Fe bonds. The metal oxide-metal interfaces with benign geometry and electronic structures enable it to be applied as efficient electrocatalyst, exhibiting overpotential of 226 mV at 10 mA cm−2. In situ Raman spectra show that the interfacial action of FeOx cluster with Ni can stimulate the generation of active intermediate of γ-NiOOH, effectively promoting OER rate. DFT calculation further demonstrates the interaction accelerates desorption of O2 molecules on the surfaces. This work provides a simple and robust strategy to synthesize oxide clusters engineering metastable metal nanocatalysts, offering new platform to explore efficient catalysts in various fields.