Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reaction Performance on NiS x @Co3O4/Nickel Foam Electrocatalysts with Their Photothermal Property

Based on the principle of heterogeneous catalysis forwater electrolysis,electrocatalysts with appropriate electronic structure and photothermalproperty are expected to drive the oxygen evolution reaction effectively.Herein, amorphous NiS (x) -coupled nanourchin-likeCo(3)O(4) was prepared on nickel foam (NiS (x) @Co3O4/NF) and investigatedas a electrocatalyst for photothermal-assisted oxygen evolution reaction.The experimental investigations and simulant calculations jointlyrevealed NiS (x) @Co3O4/NF to be of suitable electronic structure and high near-infraredphotothermal conversion capability to achieve the oxygen evolutionreaction advantageously both in thermodynamics and in kinetics. Relativeto Co3O4/NF and NiS (x) /NF, better oxygen evolution reaction activity, kinetics, and stabilitywere achieved on NiS (x) @Co3O4/NF in 1.0 M KOH owing to the NiS (x) /Co3O4 synergetic effect. In addition, theoxygen evolution reaction performance of NiS (x) @Co3O4/NF can be obviously enhanced under near-infraredlight irradiation, since NiS (x) @Co3O4 can absorb the near-infrared light to produce electricand thermal field. For the photothermal-mediated oxygen evolutionreaction, the overpotential and Tafel slope of NiS (x) @Co3O4/NF at 50 mA cm(-2) were reduced by 23 mV and 13 mV/dec, respectively. The present workprovides an inspiring reference to design and develop photothermal-assistedwater electrolysis using abundant solar energy. Amorphous NiS (x) -coupled nanourchin-likeCo(3)O(4) was constructed on nickel foam (NiS (x) @Co3O4/NF) as the electrocatalystfor photothermal-assisted oxygen evolution reaction.

Automated summary

Amorphous NiS(x)-coupled nanourchin-like Co3O4 on nickel foam (NiS(x)@Co3O4/NF) was utilized as an electrocatalyst for photothermal-assisted oxygen evolution reaction based on the principle of heterogeneous catalysis. The NiS(x)@Co3O4/NF exhibited suitable electronic structure and high near-infrared photothermal conversion capability, resulting in improved oxygen evolution reaction activity, kinetics, and stability in 1.0 M KOH. Furthermore, under near-infrared light irradiation, the oxygen evolution reaction performance of NiS(x)@Co3O4/NF was significantly enhanced.