Triethanolamine-assisted surface reconstruction of nickel oxide for efficient oxygen evolution reaction†

Developing low cost and highly efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is highly desired for renewable energy production. Ni-based electrocatalysts have been widely investigated as candidates for the OER, but developing a low-cost, easily synthesized electrocatalyst with high activity and good stability remains elusive. Herein, we report the facile electrodeposition of triethanolamine-decorated Ni oxide on carbon paper (Ni/CP-TEA) as an efficient electrocatalyst for water oxidation. Structural and experimental analyses reveal that the electrode surface is modified by triethanolamine (TEA) through Ni–N coordination bonding. The leaching of TEA drives rapid in situ surface reconstruction, facilitating the generation of high-valence Ni (Ni³⁺) species, thereby accelerating the OER performance. The Ni/CP-TEA exhibits enhanced electrocatalytic OER performance with a low overpotential of 320 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and good long-term stability. This work presents a simple route for the rational design of cost-effective and highly efficient OER catalysts.