Electron-withdrawing anion intercalation and surface sulfurization of NiFe-layered double hydroxide nanoflowers enabling superior oxygen evolution performance

Abstract

Developing earth-abundant, highly active, and durable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of crucial importance for renewable energy conversion processes. Herein, we fabricated novel flower-like NiFe-layered double hydroxide nanostructures with electron-withdrawing anion intercalation and surface sulfurization via a two-step hydrothermal treatment. Benefiting from the dual-modified electronic structure of the surface active sites of NiFe-LDHs, the as-obtained catalyst showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for the OER, only demanding a low overpotential of 259 mV to achieve 10 mA cm⁻² in 1.0 M KOH.