Abstract
Surface engineering of transition metal layered double hydroxides (LDHs) provides an efficient way of enhancing their catalytic activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, the underlying mechanism of atomistic doping or heterogeneous interface with foreign atom is still ambiguous. Herein, a case study of NiFe-LDHs that are homogeneously doped with Ce (CeNiFe-LDH) and interfaced with Ce(OH)3 (Ce@NiFe-LDH), which elucidates their electronic modulation, in situ evolution of active site, and catalytic reaction mechanisms by using X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy, operando electrochemical Raman spectroscopy, and first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations, is reported. The results indicate that Ce and Fe atoms serve as the electron acceptors and facilitate the coupled oxidation of Ni3+/4+ in NiFe-LDH, and the activated oxyhydroxide phase of the catalysts exhibits superior catalytic activity for water oxidation. Especially, Ce@NiFe-LDH shows a stronger electron transfer between the loaded Ce(OH)3 and the matrix, which leads to a better catalytic activity than CeNiFe-LDH. DFT calculations provide a clear picture with atomistic resolution for charge redistribution in the NiFe-LDH surface induced by Ce, which eventually leads to the optimal free energy landscape for the enhanced OER catalytic activity.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 2101281 |
Journal | Advanced Energy Materials |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 33 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2021 Sep 2 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Innovation and Technology Commission of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (1‐BE0Y and Q‐CDA3), the Global Frontier Program through the Global Frontier Hybrid Interface Materials (GFHIM) of National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (Project No. 2013M3A6B1078882).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Materials Science(all)