Issue 13, 2024

Constructing a medium-entropy spinel oxide FeNiMnO4/CeO2 heterojunction as a high-performance electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Medium-entropy oxides are commonly employed as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in electrolysers aimed at producing sustainable hydrogen. However, their poor conductivity poses a significant obstacle to further enhancing their electrocatalytic activity. It is therefore imperative to develop stable and highly active non-precious metal electrocatalysts for the advancement of sustainable energy technologies. CeO2 is incorporated into the FeNiMnO4 medium-entropy spinel oxide system as an “electron pump” to facilitate electron transfer from FeNiMnO4 to CeO2. Benefiting from the heterogenous interface and medium-entropy system, the medium-entropy spinel oxide FeNiMnO4/CeO2 heterojunction electrocatalyst exhibits exceptional activity and stability for the alkaline OER. It requires an overpotential of 241 mV to reach the benchmark current density of 10 mA cm−2 with a lower Tafel slope of 44.8 mV dec−1. Theoretical calculations indicate that the incorporation of CeO2 effectively lowers the barriers for the potential-determining steps in the OER, and optimizes the electronic structure to facilitate the OER process. The present study demonstrates that constructing medium-entropy heterojunction materials represents a crucial approach towards developing efficient and durable OER electrocatalysts.

Graphical abstract: Constructing a medium-entropy spinel oxide FeNiMnO4/CeO2 heterojunction as a high-performance electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
26 Mar 2024
Accepted
22 May 2024
First published
23 May 2024

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2024,11, 3786-3798

Constructing a medium-entropy spinel oxide FeNiMnO4/CeO2 heterojunction as a high-performance electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction

H. Wu, Z. Wang, Y. Shi, Z. Li, F. Ding, Y. Ren, F. Li, H. Bian, C. Wang, Y. Yang, J. Gu, S. Tang, Y. Ma, Y. Deng and X. Meng, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2024, 11, 3786 DOI: 10.1039/D4QI00770K

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