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. 2023 Dec 23;6(2):638-647.
doi: 10.1039/d3na00949a. eCollection 2024 Jan 16.

Synergistic effect of composition gradient and morphology on the catalytic activity of amorphous FeCoNi-LDH

Yuan-Yuan Li  1   2 , Xiao Nan Fu  1 , Lin Zhu  1 , Ying Xie  1 , Gong Lei Shao  3 , Bing-Xin Zhou  4 , Wei-Qing Huang  5 , Gui-Fang Huang  5 , Na Wang  1
Affiliations

Synergistic effect of composition gradient and morphology on the catalytic activity of amorphous FeCoNi-LDH

Yuan-Yuan Li et al. Nanoscale Adv. .

Abstract

The rational design of electrocatalysts with well-designed compositions and structures for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is promising and challenging. Herein, we developed a novel strategy - a one-step double-cation etching sedimentation equilibrium strategy - to synthesize amorphous hollow Fe-Co-Ni layered double hydroxide nanocages with an outer surface of vertically interconnected ultrathin nanosheets (Fe-Co-Ni-LDH), which primarily depends on the in situ etching sedimentation equilibrium of the template interface. This unique vertical nanosheet-shell hierarchical nanostructure possesses enhanced charge transfer, increased active sites, and favorable kinetics during electrolysis, resulting in superb electrocatalytic performance for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Specifically, the Fe-Co-Ni-LDH nanocages exhibited remarkable OER activity in alkaline electrolytes and achieved a current density of 100 mA cm-2 at a low overpotential of 272 mV with excellent stability. This powerful strategy provides a profound molecular-level insight into the control of the morphology and composition of 2D layered materials.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. The preparation of hollow Fe-Co-Ni-LDH nanocages. The uniform hierarchical triangular Fe-Co-Ni-LDH nanocages are prepared via the dication-exchange self-templating strategy.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Morphology control of hollow Fe-Co-Ni-LDH nanocages. SEM images of (a and b) Co-MOF, (c and d) Ni-Co-LDH, (e) Fe-Co-LDH, and (f–j) Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-2. (k–n) SEM-EDS elemental mapping of Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-2. (o) XRD patterns of Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-2.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. SEM images of (a and b) Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-1, (c) Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-2, (d and e) Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-3, (f and g) Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-4, and (h and i) Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-5.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. SEM images of (a, d, and g) Ni-Co-LDH-1, (b and c) Fe-Co -LDH-2, (e and f) Fe-Co -LDH-4, and (h and i) Fe-Co-LDH-5.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5. Microstructure of hollow Fe-Co-Ni-LDH nanocages. (a) XPS, (b) Ni 2p, (c) Co 2p, and (d) Fe 2p spectra of Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-2.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6. The OER activity of hollow Fe-Co-Ni-LDH nanocages. (a) Linear sweep voltammetry curves, (b) comparison of OER activity of the samples at a current density of 50 mA cm−2, and (c) Tafel plots of the electrocatalysts in 1.0 M KOH solution of NF, Ir/C, Ni-Co-LDH, Fe-Co-LDH and Fe-Co-Ni-LDH. (d) Linear sweep voltammetry curves of Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-1, Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-2, Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-3, and Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-4.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7. (a) Time-dependent current density curves of Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-2. (b) The electrochemical surface areas of Ni-Co-LDH and Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-2. (c) Nyquist plots of impedance spectroscopy analysis of Ni-Co-LDH, Fe-Co-LDH, and Fe-Co-Ni-LDH-2. (d) Nyquist plots of impedance spectroscopy analysis of the Ir/C sample.
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