Nano-Micro-Structured Nickel-Cobalt Hydroxide/Ni2P2O7 Assembly on Nickel Foam: An Outstanding Electrocatalyst for Alkaline Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

The design and development of materials for the efficient electrochemical evolution of oxygen from hydroxyl ions in alkaline media is of prime importance for reducing energy losses in water-alkaline electrolytes. In this Communication, we report non-noble nano-micro-structured Ni2P2O7 microsheets decorated with nickel-cobalt hydroxide (Ni-Co-hydroxide) nanoflakes for the efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Remarkably, the nano-micro-assembled Ni-Co-hydroxide/Ni2P2O7 structured electrode exhibits superior catalytic activity towards the OER with a relatively low overpotential of 197 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm(2) in 1.0 M KOH, coupled with excellent long-term stability (12 h). The outstanding OER activity resulted from the nano-micro structure of the prepared electrode with excellent redox activity in an alkaline electrolyte.