A Composite Catalyst Based on Perovskites for Overall Water Splitting in Alkaline Conditions

Electrochemical water splitting is considered a sustainable way to produce H-2. However, it is still a challenge to develop efficient and stable electrocatalysts. Here, a bifunctional composite catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was constructed by using a facile insitu growth route, which combines the carbonization on exsolved alloy nanoparticles and sulfurization in one continues step. This composite catalyst contains Ruddlesden-Popper-type S-adsorbed (Nd0.6Sr0.4)(3)((Co,Fe)(0.85)Nb-0.15)(2)O-7, metal sulfides, and hollow S-doped carbon fibers. Compared to the untreated catalyst, Nd0.6Sr0.4Co0.6Fe0.3Nb0.1O3-delta, the composite catalyst leads to significantly enhanced OER and HER activities as well as excellent stability (more than 400 h without inactivation) during overall water splitting. Our research offers a new route to fabricate hetero-architecture materials with S-doped hollow carbon fibers on alloy nanoparticles of perovskite oxides.