Enhanced electrocatalytic OER activity of FeCo LDH by co-modification with Ce and reducing anions

Abstract

In this paper, sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃) and cerium nitrate (Ce(NO₃)₃) were added in the hydrothermal method for the preparation of FeCo LDH, and needle-like Ce-FeCo LDH (NS) catalysts were grown in situ on a carbon cloth. The addition of Na₂SO₃ and Ce(NO₃)₃ regulated the electron transfer of the metal cations in the LDH, and significantly improved the performance of the catalysts. The prepared Ce-FeCo LDH (NS) catalysts exhibited excellent electrochemical properties. The overpotential of the OER was 221 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² in 1 M KOH. The surface structure and catalytic performance of the catalysts were maintained well after 100 h stability test. This study provides a new idea for the improvement and design of OER catalysts based on FeCo LDH, which is an important reference for clean energy research.