Phase selective synthesis of nickel silicide nanocrystals in molten salts for electrocatalysis of the oxygen evolution reaction
Ram Kumar, Mounib Bahri, Song Yang, Francisco Gonell, Cyril Thomas, Ovidiu Ersen, Clément Sánchez, Christel Laberty‐Robert, David Portehault
Abstract
We report phase selective synthesis of intermetallic nickel silicide nanocrystals in inorganic molten salts. NiSi and Ni2Si nanocrystals are obtained by reacting a nickel(ii) salt and sodium silicide Na4Si4 in the molten LiI-KI inorganic eutectic salt mixture. We report that nickel silicide nanocrystals are precursors to active electrocatalysts in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and may be low-cost alternatives to iridium-based electrocatalysts.
Topics & Concepts
Eutectic systemNickelMolten saltNanocrystalIntermetallicMaterials scienceSilicideElectrocatalystOxygen evolutionInorganic chemistryChemical engineeringMetallurgyAlloyNanotechnologyElectrochemistryChemistrySiliconPhysical chemistryElectrodeEngineeringSemiconductor materials and interfacesElectrocatalysts for Energy ConversionSemiconductor materials and devices