Constructing a hexagonal copper-coin-shaped NiCoSe2@NiO@CoNi2S4@CoS2 hybrid nanoarray on nickel foam as a robust oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalyst

Abstract

Employing high efficiency, earth-abundant and non-noble metals for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of prime importance but still challenging. Herein, the in situ growth of hexagonal copper-coin-shaped NiCoSe₂@NiO@CoNi₂S₄@CoS₂ on NF was successfully achieved via a simple and mild hydrothermal and calcination method. During the calcination process, the NiCo precursor was calcined using selenium powder as the Se source firstly and then using sublimed sulfur as the S source. The as-synthesized NiCoSe₂@NiO@CoNi₂S₄@CoS₂/NF exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with a lower overpotential of 310 mV@30 mA cm⁻². The better electrocatalytic activity of the electrocatalyst is associated with the well-defined hexagonal nano-copper-coin-shaped structure, great intrinsic electrocatalytic activity and synergetic effects among NiCoSe₂, NiO, CoNi₂S₄ and CoS₂. In addition, the as-obtained NiCoSe₂@NiO@CoNi₂S₄@CoS₂/NF catalyst could be used as both the cathode and anode in a two-electrode water splitting cell, which can deliver a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² at a cell voltage of 1.583 V. The electrode also shows good water splitting durability over 24 h with negligible degradation. The great OER performance and outstanding stability indicated that NiCoSe₂@NiO@CoNi₂S₄@CoS₂/NF may work as a promising OER electrocatalyst.