NiCoP–CeO(2) composites for efficient electrochemical oxygen evolution

In this study, a novel NiCoP–CeO(2) composite was constructed on a Ni foam by a simple hydrothermal method and thermal phosphating strategy. In the OER test, NiCoP–CeO(2) exhibited a low overpotential of 217 mV at 10 mA cm(−2), 45 mV dec(−1) of Tafel slopes. With the help of theoretical calculations and experimental characterization, the reason for performance improvement was analyzed in depth. The results show that CeO(2) leads to a confinement effect, maintaining the nanosheet morphology of NiCo-LDHs, which contributes to sustaining the catalyst in favourable contact with H(2)O and minimizing the OER potential. Furthermore, by loading CeO(2) onto NiCoP, the hydrophilicity of the catalyst is significantly enhanced. Our work provides an ingenious synthesis strategy for the preparation of efficient and inexpensive electrocatalytic materials.