Trimetallic Spinel NiCo_2−<i>x</i>Fe_<i>x</i>O₄ Nanoboxes for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution

Abstract

The development of efficient and low-cost electrocatalysts toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is critical for improving the efficiency of several electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices. Here, we report an elaborate design and synthesis of porous Co-based trimetallic spinel oxide nanoboxes (NiCo_2-x Fe_x O₄ NBs) by a novel metal-organic framework engaged strategy, which involves chemical etching, cation exchange, and subsequent thermal oxidation processes. Owing to the structural and compositional advantages, the optimized trimetallic NiCo_2-x Fe_x O₄ NBs (x is about 0.117) deliver superior electrocatalytic performance for OER with an overpotential of 274 mV at 10 mA cm^-2 , a small Tafel slope of 42 mV dec^-1 , and good stability in alkaline electrolyte, which is much better than that of Co-based bi/monometallic spinel oxides and even commercial RuO₂ .