Hybrid-atom-doped NiMoO4 nanotubes for oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

We fabricated hierarchically porous, hybrid-metal-atom-doped (Co, Fe and Mn) NiMoO₄ nanotubes through room-temperature metal atom incorporation and subsequent thermal treatment under an air atmosphere. The incorporation of hybrid metal atoms significantly improved the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity of the nanotubes. In general, the Fe-NiMoO₄ nanotubes exhibited much better electrocatalytic activity for the OER than single-phase NiMoO₄ nanotubes and most other catalysts. To drive a current density of 10 mA cm⁻², the Fe-NiMoO₄ catalyst only required an overpotential of 217 mV, which is comparable to the integrated performance of commercial IrO₂. Furthermore, the Fe-NiMoO₄ catalyst showed a stable performance during CV sweeps and long-term tests. The superior activity and long-term stability demonstrate that the hierarchical Fe-NiMoO₄ nanotube catalyst has promising potential for applications in large-scale water splitting.