In-situ generated P-doped NiCo2O4 nanosheet arrays with rapid charge transfer for efficient oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline solution

Exploring highly efficient electrocatalysts (OER) is critical for oxygen evolution reaction . Herein, for the first time, P-doped NiCo 2 O 4 nanosheet arrays generated on nickel foam (namely P–NiCo 2 O 4 /NF) were constructed via a feasible protocol. Notably, the etching treatment can open the internal structure of ZIF-67 to offer more electrocatalytically active surface area, and obtained NiCo 2 O 4 showed great electrocatalytic performance in OER. The introduction of P can effectively reduce the charge transfer resistance of NiCo 2 O 4 and boost OER kinetics. More importantly, doping P not only improved the hydrophilicity of NiCo 2 O 4 , but also reduced its surface potentials, which provided convenience for the adsorption of OH − over P–NiCo 2 O 4 /NF electrode. As expected, the P–NiCo 2 O 4 /NF electrode with good long-term durability displayed excellent performance for OER in alkaline solution, and an overpotential of 121.6 mV was achieved at a current density of 10 mA/cm 2 . To sum up, current work can provide a meaningful reference to prepare electrocatalyst for efficient OER.