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Indexed by:Journal Papers

Date of Publication:2017-08-01

Journal:Nano Energy

Included Journals:EI

Volume:38

Page Number:175-184

ISSN No.:22112855

Abstract:On the way to energy-efficient and cost-effective hydrogen production by electrochemical or photoelectrochemical water splitting, it is of primary importance to develop highly active and durable water oxidation electrocatalysts based on earth-abundant elements. Here we report a highly active, robust, cheap, and facilely fabricated O2-evolving catalyst on a Cu foil, NiB0.45-250/Cu, which forms a NiB0.45/NiOxcore-shell heterostructured nanoparticulate film during anodic electrolysis. The performance of NiB0.45-250/Cu, to produce 10 mA cm ?at 296 mV overpotential in 1 M KOH over 60 h, is at par with the best efficiency of earth-abundant electrocatalysts reported to date and surpasses that of IrO2-loaded copper electrode under identical conditions. Experimental evidence and theoretical calculations reveal the correlations of B/Ni atomic ratio and annealing temperature with the morphology, surface microtexture, electrochemical active surface area, and electrical conductivity of NiBxfilms. Optimal combination of these factors can evidently enhance the catalytic activity of nickel boride electrocatalysts. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd