Clusters of Fe-Co-Cd nanosheets grow on the surface of nickel foam to enhance the oxygen evolution reaction

To enhance the efficiency of water electrolysis for hydrogen energy production, it is essential to synthesize oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts that are both high-performing and low-cost. In this study, a self-supporting electrocatalyst denoted as was synthesized using the hydrothermal method by growing trimetallic nanosheets FeCoCd@C in situ on nickel foam. This electrocatalyst is composed of transition metal hydroxides and carbon materials, which exhibit a specific interaction between them. The electrocatalyst demonstrates outstanding OER performance, achieving a current density of 10 mA cm-2 in a 1.0 M KOH electrolyte with only 216 mV overpotential and a Tafel slope of 75.86 mV dec-1. Furthermore, carbon materials can prevent direct contact between the electrolyte and transition metal hydroxide, effectively impeding electrocatalyst corrosion, and providing long-term stability. Additionally, a comprehensive analysis of the physical and chemical properties of the composite catalyst was carried out to elucidate its mechanism of action. This study confirms that the combination of transition metal hydroxides and carbon materials can effectively enhance the catalytic activity of electrocatalysts, providing a clear direction for the development of composite OER catalysts.