Synergism of Geometric Construction and Electronic Regulation: 3D Se-(NiCo)Sx/(OH)x Nanosheets for Highly Efficient Overall Water Splitting

Abstract

The exploration of highly efficient electrocatalysts for both oxygen and hydrogen generation via water splitting is receiving considerable attention in recent decades. Up till now, Pt-based catalysts still exhibit the best hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance and Ir/Ru-based oxides are identified as the benchmark for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, the high cost and rarity of these materials extremely hinder their large-scale applications. This paper describes the construction of the ultrathin defect-enriched 3D Se-(NiCo)S_x/(OH)_x nanosheets for overall water splitting through a facile Se-induced hydrothermal treatment. Via Se-induced fabrication, highly efficient Se-(NiCo)S_x/(OH)_x nanosheets are successfully fabricated through morphology optimization, defect engineering, and electronic structure tailoring. The as-prepared hybrids exhibit relatively low overpotentials of 155 and 103 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm⁻² for OER and HER, respectively. Moreover, an overall water-splitting device delivers a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² for ≈66 h without obvious degradation.

This communication describes the construction of ultrathin defect-enriched Se-(NiCo)S_x/(OH)_x nanosheets through a facile Se-induced hydrothermal treatment. Benefited from morphological optimization, defect engineering and electronic-structure tailoring, Se-(NiCo)S_x/(OH)_x exhibits highly efficient activity and long-term stability for oxygen evolution, hydrogen evolution, and overall water splitting.

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