Issue 21, 2025

Single-source-precursor synthesis of porous Ni2Si/SiOC composites as oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts

Abstract

In this study, a novel carbon-rich Ni2Si/SiOC ceramic composite was successfully synthesized via a polymer-derived ceramic approach, which was found to be catalytically active for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The synthesis involved the reaction of a commercially available carbon-rich polysiloxane precursor SPR-684 and nickel acetylacetonate, forming a Ni-containing single-source-precursor (SSP). Furthermore, to investigate the influence of porosity on OER performance, polystyrene (PS) was used as a sacrificial template for pore formation. Thermal treatment of the obtained mixture of SSP and PS at 1400 °C led to the encapsulation of Ni2Si particles by structurally ordered carbon, potentially enhancing the electrical conductivity of the composite. Additionally, the sample prepared at 1400 °C presented weight fractions of the crystalline phases of Ni2Si and SiC in the amounts of 39.6 wt% and 29.3 wt%, respectively. Owing to the support of increased conductive carbon formation, the sample obtained at 1400 °C demonstrated the best overpotential of 336 mV versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH, indicating its enhanced performance for the OER.

Graphical abstract: Single-source-precursor synthesis of porous Ni2Si/SiOC composites as oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 Feb 2025
Accepted
02 Apr 2025
First published
08 Apr 2025

Dalton Trans., 2025,54, 8536-8546

Single-source-precursor synthesis of porous Ni2Si/SiOC composites as oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts

Y. Zhang, C. Tian, T. Jiang, W. Li, M. Einert, J. P. Hofmann, L. Molina-Luna, R. Riedel and Z. Yu, Dalton Trans., 2025, 54, 8536 DOI: 10.1039/D5DT00349K

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