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The Role of Active Oxide Species for Electrochemical Water Oxidation on the Surface of 3d‐Metal Phosphides
Author(s) -
Liu Kaili,
Wang Fengmei,
He Peng,
Shifa Tofik Ahmed,
Wang Zhenxing,
Cheng Zhongzhou,
Zhan Xueying,
He Jun
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201703290
Subject(s) - oxygen evolution , electrocatalyst , nanosheet , materials science , hydroxide , oxide , electrochemistry , transition metal , water splitting , metal , inorganic chemistry , catalysis , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrode , metallurgy , biochemistry , photocatalysis , engineering
Abstract Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have recently been utilized as promising electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media. The metal oxides or hydroxides formed on their surface during the OER process are hypothesized to play an important role. However, their exact role is yet to be elucidated. Here unambiguous justification regarding the active role of oxo(hydroxo) species on O‐Ni (1− x ) Fe x P 2 nanosheet with pyrite structure is shown. These O‐Ni (1− x ) Fe x P 2 ( x = 0.25) nanosheets demonstrate greatly improved OER performance than their corresponding hydroxide and oxide counterparts do. From density function theory (DFT) calculations, it is found that the introduction of iron into the pyrite‐phased NiP 2 alters OER steps occurred on the surface. Notably, the partially oxidized surface of O‐Ni (1− x ) Fe x P 2 nanosheets is vital to improve the local environment and accelerate the reaction steps. This study sheds light on the OER mechanism of the 3d TMP electrocatalyst and opens up a way to develop efficient and low‐cost electrocatalysts.