Ni5P4-embedded FeV LDH porous nanosheets for enhancing oxygen evolution and urea oxidation reactions

Abstract

At present, it is still challenging to design high-performance and low-cost non-noble mental catalysts. In this work, nickel phosphide (Ni₅P₄) was combined with FeV LDH via an in situ growth approach to form porous nanosheet arrays. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of atoms between Ni₅P₄ and FeV LDH, the hybrid electrocatalyst displays significantly enhanced electro-catalytic properties for the anodic reaction. Impressively, the Ni₅P₄@FeV LDH material delivers 10, 50 and 100 mA cm⁻² with an overpotential of only 204, 250 and 416 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. Additionally, it also exhibits superior properties for the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) with a low cell voltage of 1.44 V at 50 mA cm⁻² and retains stability for at least 15 h in the alkaline electrolyte with 0.33 M urea. This strategy provides a new idea for the design and synthesis of transition metal phosphides that can be used as an efficient electrocatalyst for electrolysis of water and wastewater treatment.