Ce-Directed Double-Layered Nanosheet Architecture of NiFe-Based Hydroxide as Highly Efficient Water Oxidation Electrocatalyst

The development of highly available low-cost water-oxidation electrocatalysts is meaningful for sustainable energy generation. Herein, the unique architecture of double-layered FeNi-based nanosheet-stacks grown on Ni foam (Fe:Ni(OH)2/FeCe:Ni(OH)2/NF) was induced by Ce ions in the reaction solution. The as-synthesized double-layered catalyst on the substrate of the Ni foam exhibited excellent electrochemical behavior in the catalysis of water oxidation. At the current density of 10 mA cm–2, the overpotential was as low as 201 mV in alkaline electrolyte. The Tafel slope was only 42.4 mV dec–1. The high OER electrocatalysis performance of the double-layered nanosheets was related intensely with the introduction of Ce ions, which not only induced the unique architecture of the double-layered vertical nanosheets but also provided more effective charge and mass transfer for electrochemical water oxidation kinetics. These results indicated the promise of expanding the field of lanthanide-doped NiFe-based nanomaterials for applications in energy conversion and storage.