Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) stand out as versatile structural platforms for modulating the electronic structure of highly reactive earth-abundant transition metal-based electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). A Ni-Co-Fe LDH, electrodeposited on a Ni nanocones (NiNCs)-decorated Ni foam, acts as a morphology driving template to direct the facile constant potential electrosynthesis of NiCoFeB from a K2B4O7 solution. The amorphous tri-metal borate (TMB) displays excellent trifunctional electrocatalytic activities toward the HER, OER as well as ORR with excellent durability in alkaline solutions. A zinc–air battery based on the dual oxygen catalyst cathode exhibits a high open-circuit voltage and an outstanding cycling stability of over 1330 cycles which outperforms the commercial noble metal benchmarks. These results demonstrate that LDHs are efficient sacrificial templates for the preparation of high-performance multifunctional multi-metal borate electrocatalysts for energy-related applications.
This research group includes Prof. Mousavi, Dr. Moloudi, Dr. Nouri, and Dr. Shabangoli from Tarbiat Modares University, Dr. Rahmanifar from Shahed University as well as other researchers from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The results were published in journal of “Advanced Energy Materials”. The authors hope this research would be considered as a starting step in the development of multifunctional electrocatalysts with optimal performance.
To see the details of this research, click here.
February 12, 2023
Scientific
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