Interfacial electronic regulation promotes the catalytic activity of NiCo-LDH/Ce(OH)3 heterostructures on Cu(OH)2 nanowires towards overall water splitting

Abstract

As a high-quality renewable energy source, hydrogen can help to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality through water electrolysis technology. In this work, NiCo-LDH/Ce(OH)₃ heterostructures were prepared on the super-hydrophilic of Cu(OH)₂ nanowires by in-situ growth and chemical etching techniques. The introduction of Ce atoms achieved element redistribution in NiCo-MOFs, and the resulting NiCo-LDH/Ce(OH)₃ hollow nanocages contribute to achieving an optimal specific surface area and porosity. Density functional theory (DFT) further reveals the electron regulation behavior at the interface caused by the NiCo-LDH/Ce(OH)₃ heterostructures. Nanowires stabilize the heterostructures by providing a favorable chemical environment. As a bi-functional catalyst, Cu(OH)₂NiCo/Ce HS/CF demonstrated excellent electrocatalytic performance and low electrolytic energy consumption. The HER and OER’s overpotential is only 126 mV and 219 mV at 10 mA cm^-2. Additionally, under conditions simulating industrial electrolysis, Cu(OH)₂NiCo/Ce HS/CF can undergo continuous electrolysis for 600 h at 800 mA cm^-2. This research offers new perspectives on the structural design and electronic regulation of advanced bifunctional heterojunction catalysts in the field of water electrolysis.