Co(OH)F/Ni(OH)2@FeOOH core–shell heterostructure as a high-efficiency electrocatalyst with strong electron interactions towards boosting the oxygen evolution reaction

Reasonable design of specific interface structures and optimization of electron transfer between the various active sites is considered an effective approach to upgrade oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetic performance. Herein, a Co(OH)F/Ni(OH)2@FeOOH (CoFNiFe) core–shell heterostructure electrode is designed with nickel foam (NF) as the supporting material through a hydrothermal technique and rapid interface method. The OER electrocatalytic results demonstrate that the overpotential of the Co(OH)F/Ni(OH)2@FeOOH/NF (CoFNiFe/NF) electrocatalyst sustaining 100 mA cm−2 is 289 mV, indicating the excellent OER electrocatalytic performance of the CoFNiFe heterojunction. Moreover, the OER performance is upgraded through the reduction of the energy barrier in the electrocatalytic experiment, which is caused by interfacial electron transfer from Co(OH)F/Ni(OH)2 (CoFNi) to FeOOH at the nanointerface. The introduction of F− and the formation of FeOOH/CoOOH/NiOOH heterointerfaces supply more descendent active sites, further improving the OER electrocatalytic behaviour. This research provides a feasible approach to develop highly efficient electrocatalysts by designing core–shell heterostructures to modulate the electronic structure of the nanointerface.