One-pot synthesis of NiFe layered double hydroxide/reduced graphene oxide composite as an efficient electrocatalyst for electrochemical and photoelectrochemical water oxidation

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2015-10, Vol.294, p.437-443
• Main Authors: Youn, Duck Hyun, Park, Yoon Bin, Kim, Jae Young, Magesh, Ganesan, Jang, Youn Jeong, Lee, Jae Sung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electrocatalysts; Nickel iron layered double hydroxide; Oxygen evolution reaction; Reduced graphene oxide; Water splitting
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.06.098

As an efficient non-precious metal catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in electrochemical and photoelectrochemical water splitting, NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH)/reduced graphene oxide (NiFe/RGO) composite is synthesized by a simple solvothermal method in one-pot. NiFe LDHs are uniformly deposited on RGO layers of high electrical conductivity and large surface area. In electrochemical water splitting, NiFe/RGO shows superior OER performance compared to bare NiFe and reference IrO2 with a lower benchmark η10 value (required overpotential to drive 10 mA cm−2) of 0.245 V. Furthermore, NiFe/RGO substantially increases the performance of a hematite photoanode in photoelectrochemical water oxidation, demonstrating its potential as an OER co-catalyst for photoelectrodes. [Display omitted] •NiFe LDH/RGO is prepared by a simple solvothermal method in one-pot.•NiFe LDH/RGO was used as an efficient catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER).•It shows excellent OER performance with a low benchmark η10 value of 0.245 V.•NiFe LDH/RGO works as OER co-catalyst for a hematite photoanode.