An Unconventional Iron Nickel Catalyst for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Journal
ACS Central Science
Journal Volume
5
Journal Issue
3
Pages
558-568
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Song, F
Busch, M.M.
Lassalle-Kaiser, B.
Hsu, C.-S.
Petkucheva, E.
Bensimon, M.
Corminboeuf, C.
Hu, X.
Abstract
The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a key process that enables the storage of renewable energies in the form of chemical fuels. Here, we describe a catalyst that exhibits turnover frequencies higher than state-of-the-art catalysts that operate in alkaline solutions, including the benchmark nickel iron oxide. This new catalyst is easily prepared from readily available and industrially relevant nickel foam, and it is stable for many hours. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopic data reveal that the catalyst is made of nanoclusters of -FeOOH covalently linked to a -NiOOH support. According to density functional theory (DFT) computations, this structure may allow a reaction path involving iron as the oxygen evolving center and a nearby terrace O site on the -NiOOH support oxide as a hydrogen acceptor. © 2019 American Chemical Society.
SDGs
Other Subjects
Absorption spectroscopy; Alkalinity; Density functional theory; Digital storage; Fuel storage; Iron oxides; Nickel oxide; Oxygen; X ray absorption; Alkaline solutions; Hydrogen acceptor; Oxygen evolution reaction; Oxygen evolving center; Renewable energies; Spectroscopic data; State of the art; Turnover frequency; Catalysts
Type
journal article