One-step fabrication of vanadium-doped CoFe PBA nanosheets for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Finding effective and affordable non-noble metal catalysts is one of the most important yet difficult tasks because of the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Therefore, we synthesized vanadium-doped CoFe PBA nanosheets on nickel foam in a single step to change the electronic structure with metal doping. The sheet structure facilitates charge transfer, while vanadium doping modifies the electronic structure to enhance the catalytic activity. With just a 229 mV overpotential needed in the OER reaction to reach 10 mA cm⁻², the as-synthesised electrocatalyst demonstrates high electrocatalytic activity. The produced electrocatalyst can operate at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² for 12 h, and it displays outstanding stability even at a high OER current density of 100 mA cm⁻² for 12 h. This study will contribute to the development of efficient and affordable non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts.