Composition and Morphology Modulation of Bimetallic Nitride Nanostructures on Nickel Foams for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysis

Metal-nitrides-based electrocatalysts for efficient oxygen-evolution have been extensively studied as one of the most promising candidates to fulfil the demand for future energy-conversion and storage. Herein, a series of NixCo1−xO- and NixCo1−xN-based nanostructures on nickel foams were reported to show excellent activities for oxygen-evolution reaction. The catalysts were prepared and modulated rationally via a facile-hydrothermal method, followed by high-temperature calcination under air or nitrogen atmosphere. The optimal bimetallic-nitride catalyst Ni0.3Co0.7N shows a small overpotential of 268 mV at 20 mA cm−2, and a Tafel slope of 66 mV dec−1 with good stability. The enhanced OER-performance is ascribed to the synergetic effect of the unique morphology and the intrinsic catalytic property of the nanostructure after nitridation.