In Situ Synthesis of Efficient Water Oxidation Catalysts in Laser-Induced Graphene

NiFe-based catalysts are highly active for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline electrolytes. These catalysts are generally synthesized by solution-based methods. We present an in situ synthesis method for NiFe-based OER catalysts through a laser-induced graphene (LIG)-assisted process. By loading the metal precursor on a preformed LIG surface followed by laser scribing, we synthesized the NiFe/LIG catalysts via a solid phase transition that did not require utilization of CVD or typical solution-based reactions. The catalysts showed high OER activity and durability. The overpotential at 10 mA cm–2 is as low as 240 mV with a Tafel slope of 32.8 mV dec–1 in 1 M KOH. Additionally, this method worked well on a carbon fiber paper substrate, providing a convenient approach for the preparation of a free-standing catalytic electrode. This method provides a potential route to the facile synthesis of a variety of catalysts on a conductive surface.