One-pot self-assembled bimetallic sulfide particle cluster-supported three-dimensional graphene aerogel as an efficient electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

The preparation of an electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with high catalytic activity, good long-term durability and rapid reaction kinetics through interface engineering is of great significance. Herein, we have developed a bimetallic sulfide particle cluster-supported three-dimensional graphene aerogel (FeNiS@GA), which serves as an efficient electrocatalyst for OER, by a one-step hydrothermal method. Profiting from the synergy of the FeNiS particle cluster with high capacitance and GA with its three-dimensional porous nanostructure, FeNiS@GA shows a high specific surface area, large pore volume, low contact resistance, and decreases the electron and ion transport routes. FeNiS@GA exhibits outstanding OER activity (when the current density is 50 mA cm⁻², the overpotential is 341 mV), low Tafel slope (63.87 mV dec⁻¹) and remarkable stability in alkaline solutions, outperforming FeNiS, NiS@GA, FeS@GA and RuO₂. Due to its simple synthesis process and excellent electrocatalytic performance, FeNiS@GA shows great potential to replace noble metal-based catalysts in practical applications.