Porous borophene/NiO with lattice defects as a superior electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Developing efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial to overcoming the challenges of high overpotential and slow kinetics. This study presents a borophene-based catalyst, modified with NiO, exhibiting induced lattice defects and porosity through rapid dehydration/reduction. This unique structure, validated by ex-situ characterization techniques such as XPS, XRD, EPR, and nitrogen adsorption, enables dual reaction pathways: conventional and oxygen-involved mechanisms. Electrochemical testing shows that the catalyst labeled as B&Ni²⁺ achieves an exceptionally low overpotential of 169.56 mV at 10 mA/cm² and a Tafel slope of 31 mV/decade in 1 M KOH, outperforming RuO₂ and most current electrocatalysts. This study not only advances borophene-based catalysts but also provides insights into the reaction mechanism, paving the way for efficient energy conversion technologies.