Ni3N@Ni juncture layer enabled performance enhanced electrocatalytic water oxidation

High-performance and cost-effective catalysts for water splitting are key components of hydrogen-based energy technologies. As a classical catalyst, NiFe-LDH is confirmed as the ideal answer to the dynamic slow oxygen release reactions (OER). While, how to take best advantage of the electrocatalyst came to a non-negligible challenge. Herein, NiFe-LDH/Ni3N@Ni/CP electrode was assembled with Ni3N@Ni as a juncture layer for optimized performance. An overpotential of only 233 mV was needed to drive a current density of 100 mA cm−2, with a very low Tafel slope of 25.8 mV dec-1 and excellent durability of 150 h. The superior performance was ascribed to the optimized conductivity, accelerated charge transfer kinetics and enlarged ECSA for the juncture layer of Ni3N@Ni. This work provides brand-new ideas for the rational design of electrodes for water splitting.