Rapid fabrication of FexNi2−xP4O12 and graphene hybrids as electrocatalyst for highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Transition metal phosphates have been considered as a kind of promising electrocatalysts towards oxygen evolution reaction (OER), however, the unsatisfactory OER activity and tedious preparation process greatly restrict their further application. Herein, we report a novel microwave assistant strategy to fabricate graphene supported FexNi2−xP4O12 (FexNi2−xP4O12/RGO) hybrids as OER electrocatalyst. In alkaline solution, the optimized FexNi2−xP4O12/RGO merely needs low overpotential of 277, 340 and 380 mV to achieve 100, 500 and 1000 mA cm−2, respectively. Moreover, the electrolytic cell assembled by FexNi2−xP4O12/RGO and Pt/C only requires voltage of 1.549, 1.678 and 1.773 V to generate 100, 500 and 1000 mA cm−2, respectively, outperforming the electrolytic cell assembled by IrO2 and Pt/C. Durability test at 100 mA cm−2 for 100 h displays no obvious degradation of activity, confirming its outstanding stability. The strategy presented in this work affords a new avenue to fabricate high performance electrocatalysts.