Enhanced OER performance of NiFeB amorphous alloys by surface self-reconstruction

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2022-06, Vol.47 (48), p.20718-20728
• Main Authors: Li, Hai-long, Wang, Yuan-yuan, Liu, Chun-ming, Zhang, Shi-ming, Zhang, Hai-feng, Zhu, Zheng-wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amorphous alloys; Electrocatalyst; Oxygen evolution reaction; Reconstruction; Stability
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.04.200

The design and development of cost-effective and highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts are urgently desirable during the water-splitting process. Here, NixFe80-xB20 (x = 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, hereafter referred to as NFB) amorphous alloys, with high mechanical strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and unique atomic structure, are fabricated as efficient water oxidation electrocatalysts in alkaline solutions. Ni40Fe40B20 amorphous ribbons achieve only 319 mV of overpotential at 10 mA·cm−2 with a Tafel slope of 56 mV dec−1 and exhibit excellent long-term stability for 24 h at 10 mA·cm−2 and 100 mA·cm−2 in 1 M KOH solution, which outperform the commercial RuO2 electrocatalyst. It is worth noting that the OER performance of NixFe80-xB20 amorphous electrocatalysts after long-term chronopotentiometry test displays more effectively, which can be ascribed to the surface construction. Meanwhile, the analysis of the morphology and structure of the electrocatalysts reveal that continuous oxidation during the OER process induces the structural reorganization on the surface of the electrocatalysts, which can enhance the electron transfer process and adsorption of the reaction intermediates to optimize the OER performance. This study provides a shred of evidence for surface self-reconstruction of NiFeB amorphous alloys electrocatalysts during the OER process and promotes the application of amorphous alloys as functional materials in the water-splitting field. [Display omitted] •Amorphous Ni40Fe40B20 alloys show a low overpotential of 319 mV at 10 mA·cm−2.•Long-term stability of amorphous NFB alloys in a concentrated alkaline solution.•Self-construction enhances the OER performance after the long-term test.•Promoting the application of amorphous NFB alloys as electrodes.