Engineering the surface atomic structure of FeVO4 nanocrystals for use as highly active and stable electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution

Abstract

Here, we demonstrate the controlled construction of FeVO₄ nanobelts and nanosheets with selectively exposed {010} and {001} facets, respectively. More importantly, the FeVO₄ nanobelts exhibit more efficient electrocatalytic activities than the nanosheets, with a low overpotential of 240 mV (10 mA cm⁻²) and durability (36 h) towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Further studies clearly reveal that the improved activity of FeVO₄ nanobelts is mainly attributed to the open surface structure and favorable atomic arrangements of {010} facets, which assure rapid charge transfer and Fe–V dual-active sites for the OER.