In Situ Fabrication of Nickel–Iron Oxalate Catalysts for Electrochemical Water Oxidation at High Current Densities

Abstract

Ni–Fe-based electrode materials are promising candidates for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The synergy between Fe and Ni atoms is crucial in modulating the electronic structure of the active site to enhance electrochemical performance. Herein, a simple chemical immersion technique was used to grow Ni–Fe oxalate nanowires directly on a porous nickel foam substrate. The as-prepared Ni–Fe oxalate electrode exhibited an excellent electrochemical performance of the OER with ultralow overpotentials of 210 and 230 mV to reach 50 and 100 mA cm–2 current densities, respectively, in a 1 M KOH aqueous solution. The excellent OER performance of this Ni–Fe oxalate electrode can be attributed to its bimetallic composition and nanowire structure, which leads to an efficient ionic diffusion, high electronic conductivity, and fast electron transfer. The overall analysis indicates a suitable approach for designing electrocatalysts applicable in energy conversion.