Highly efficient Fe_xNi_(1-x)O_y/CP electrode prepared via simple soaking and heating treatments for electrocatalytic water oxidation

The oxygen evolution reaction(OER) is a key step in the overall water splitting process. Numerous electrocatalysts have been developed to lower the overpotential and accelerate the kinetics of the OER. In this work, a simple soaking and heating treatment was used to form a stable and efficient Fe_xNi_(1-x)O_y/CP electrode. The electrode combined nickel and iron oxides on a commercial carbon paper were used for electrocatalytic water oxidation. The best Fe_xNi_(1-x)O_y/CP electrode(Ni/Fe = 15/1) displayed a current density of 10 mA/cm~2 at a low overpotential of 290 mV in 0.1 M KOH solution with a Tafel slope of 52 mV/dec.A higher current density of ~50 mA/cm~2 at the same overpotential and a lower Tafel slope of 43 mV/dec was obtained for this electrode in 1.0 M KOH solution. Excellent durability of the Fe_xNi_(1-x)O_y/CP electrode in 1.0 M KOH solution was confirmed under a high current density of 136 mA/cm~2 at an overpotential of 340 mV.