W-Doped α-Ni(OH)<sub>2</sub> Honeycomb-like Microstructures for Promoted Electrochemical Oxygen Evolution
Fangfang Wang, Kuanjian Zhang, Shifeng Li, Qingqing Zha, Yonghong Ni
Abstract
It is critical for converting renewable electricity into chemicals and fuels to develop electrocatalysts with good reactivity and high stability for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) using a cost-effective and straightforward manner. Here, we successfully fabricated W-doped α-Ni(OH)2 honeycomb-like microstructures deposited on nickel foam (NF) using an easy and fast one-step electrodeposition approach. Some parameters affecting the morphology and OER activity of the target product were systematically investigated, including the initial nickel source, the deposition time, and the deposition current density. It was found that W-doped α-Ni(OH)2 honeycomb-like microstructures deposited from the NiSO4 solution at −100 mA cm–2 for 15 min manifested the strongest electrocatalytic OER capability. In 1.0 M KOH, only 170/209 mV of overpotential was required for the as-obtained W-Ni(OH)2/NF electrode to launch a current density of 10/100 mA cm–2, respectively, outperforming most previously reported electrocatalysts. Also, the as-prepared catalyst showed outstanding long-term stability without attenuation over 400 h at a large current density of 250 mA cm–2. Distinctly, the present electrochemical deposition technology paves a facile and fast pathway for preparing nonprecious metal OER electrocatalysts with high electroactivity.