Constructing Ru doped Fe/nickel foam with efficient oxygen evolution reaction using a simple one-step electrodeposition technique

Developing OER electrocatalyst with high efficiency and long-term stability using a simple method is of great significance for water splitting. However, the lack of easily accessible active sites and the degradation of durability caused by reconstruction during the reaction process remain challenges. Herein, we successfully prepared Ru doped Fe on nickel foam (NF) using a facile electrodeposition method. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of porous structure and more accessible active sites, Ru-0.01-Fe/NF-2.5 posses the small OER overpotential of 134 and 168 mV at current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm-2, respectively. More significantly, the electrolytic cell assembled with Ru-0.01-Fe/NF-2.5 and Pt/C as anodes and cathodes for overall water splitting only requires a low voltage of 1.46 V to achieve the current density of 10 mA cm-2. In addition, the electrolytic cell maintained robust stability even after continuous operation of 48 hours at a high current density of approximately 100 mA cm-2. This work may open an avenue to construct OER effective electrocatalyst via facile method, and promote their applications in industrial water electrolysis.