Fe and B Codoped Nickel Zinc Layered Double Hydroxide for Boosting the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

With global environmental degradation and an energy shortage, it is desirable to fabricate inexpensive as well as resistant oxidation catalysts toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we prepared Fe and B codoped NiZn layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanosheets via in situ growth on nickel foam by an ion etching strategy. Moreover, the representative NiZnFeB-LDH nanosheets presented a superior electrocatalytic performance for OER with a low 280 mV overpotential at 100 mA cm–2 and Tafel slope of 48.4 mV dec–1, outperforming most Ni-based materials reported up until now. In addition, the NiZnFeB-LDH can maintain stable electrocatalytic activity for as long as 120 h (100 mA cm–2). The codoping of Fe and B modulated the intrinsic electronic properties of NiZn-LDH, and even the synergetic effects among these metal centers with the nonmetallic element accelerated the transfer ability of charges, thus achieving excellent performance. This work can supply a new perspective for designing remarkable electrocatalysts.