A highly active oxygen evolution electrocatalyst: Ultrathin CoNi double hydroxide/CoO nanosheets synthesized via interface-directed assembly

A cost-efficient and stable oxygen evolution electrocatalyst is essential for improving energy storage and conversion efficiencies. Herein, 2D nanosheets with randomly cross-linked CoNi layered double hydroxide (LDH) and small CoO nanocrystals were designed and synthesized via in situ reduction and interfacedirected assembly in air. The formation of CoNi LDH/CoO nanosheets was attributed to the strong extrusion of hydrated metal–oxide clusters driven by the interfacial tension. The obtained loose and porous nanosheets exhibited low crystallinity due to the presence of numerous defects. Owing to the orbital hybridization between metal 3d and O 2p orbitals, and electron transfer between metal atoms through Ni–O–Co, a number of Co and Ni atoms in the CoNi LDH present a high +3 valency. These unique characteristics result in a high density of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) active sites, improving the affinity between OH– and catalyst, and resulting in a large accessible surface area and permeable channels for ion adsorption and transport. Therefore, the resulting nanosheets exhibited high catalytic activity towards the OER. The CoNi LDH/CoO featured a low onset potential of 1.48 V in alkaline medium, and required an overpotential of only 300 mV at a current density of 10 mA·cm–2, while displaying good stability in accelerated durability tests.