Colloidal synthesis of urchin-like Fe doped NiSe2 for efficient oxygen evolution

Abstract

The search for highly efficient non-precious metal electrocatalysts toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is extremely essential for renewable energy systems. Here, we report the colloidal synthesis of Fe doped NiSe₂, which functions as a high-performance electrocatalyst for the OER in alkaline solution. The NiFeSe catalysts are composed of urchin-like dendrites with a high number of active sites, which could provide fast transportation of electrons and electrolytes, and facile release of the evolved O₂ bubbles during the OER catalysis. Benefitting from this unique urchin-like structure and strong electron interaction between Fe, Ni, and Se, the Ni_1.12Fe_0.49Se₂ catalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity and high durability toward the OER in alkaline solution, with an overpotential of 227 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻², which is, to the best of our knowledge, higher than most of the reported selenide-based electrocatalysts.