Synthesis of 3D CC/NCNF/NiFe LDH composites as highly active oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts

Nitrogen doped carbon nanofibers (NCNFs), which are grown on carbon cloth (CC) and loaded with NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets, are synthesized by chemical vapor deposition, ammonia annealing and electrodeposition. The obtained three dimensional CC/NCNF/NiFe LDH composites demonstrate an overpotential of 220 mV at current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a small Tafel slope of 30 mV dec−1 for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), both of which are superior to those of the state-of-the-art iridium oxide catalysts. The excellent OER performances of the CC/NCNF/NiFe LDH composites may be attributed to collective contributions of large surface areas of CNFs, nitrogen doping and synergy between NCNFs and NiFe LDHs.