Enhancing Oxygen Evolution Reaction Performance in Prussian Blue Analogues: Triple-Play of Metal Exsolution, Hollow Interiors, and Anionic Regulation

Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) are promising catalysts for green hydrogen production. However, the rational design of high-performing PBAs is challenging, which requires an in-depth understanding of the catalytic mechanism. Here FeMn@CoNi core-shell PBAs are employed as precursors, together with Se powders, in low-temperature pyrolysis in an argon atmosphere. This synthesis method enables the partial dissociation of inner FeMn PBAs that results in hollow interiors, Ni nanoparticles (NPs) exsolution to the surface, and Se incorporation onto the PBA shell. The resulting material presents ultralow oxygen evolution reaction (OER) overpotential (184 mV at 10 mA cm-2) and low Tafel slope (43.4 mV dec-1), outperforming leading-edge PBA-based electrocatalysts. The mechanism responsible for such a high OER activity is revealed, assisted by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and the surface examination before and after the OER process. The exsolved Ni NPs are found to help turn the PBAs into Se-doped core-shell metal oxyhydroxides during the OER, in which the heterojunction with Ni and the Se incorporation are combined to improve the OER kinetics. This work shows that efficient OER catalysts could be developed by using a novel synthesis method backed up by a sound understanding and control of the catalytic pathway. Hierarchical hollow core-shell FeMn@CoNi-Se PBA materials with metallic Ni NPs loading can be synthesized via low-temperature thermal treatment. The prepared PBA-Se 350 displays outstanding catalytic performance and stability toward the oxygen evolution reaction in an alkaline solution, superior to commercial catalysts.image

Automated summary

This study introduces a new synthesis method for high-performance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts using Prussian blue analogs (PBAs). The synthesized PBAs show hollow interiors, exsolved Ni nanoparticles, and Se incorporation, resulting in ultralow OER overpotential and low Tafel slope. Density functional theory calculations and surface examination provide insights into the mechanism responsible for the high OER activity.