Nanostructured metallic FeNi2S4 with reconstruction to generate FeNi-based oxide as a highly-efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalyst

FeNi-based nanomaterials with bimetallic alloying effect deliver a great promise as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, the reconstruction to generate in-situ catalytically FeNi-based oxides or hydroxides during OER process and high electrical conductivity demand foster the great pursuit of the rational design of FeNi-based OER electrocatalyst a big challenge. Herein, we design and fabricate a nanostructured metallic FeNi2S4 as a highly efficient OER electrocatalyst. This catalyst exhibits an overpotential of (250 mV) and a Tafel slope (62 mV dec(-1)), that outperforms the benchmark of commercial RuO2. The experimental results demonstrate that the alloying effect and the superior electrical conductivity, endow it a great electrocatalytic performance. Such a nanostructured metallic OER electrocatalyst shows a great promise in water splitting.

Automated summary

FeNi-based OER electrocatalysts face challenges in rational design, but using FeNi2S4 nanostructures as catalysts show excellent electrocatalytic performance, promising significant impact in the field of water splitting.