Design of a Multilayered Oxygen-Evolution Electrode with High Catalytic Activity and Corrosion Resistance for Saline Water Splitting

The realization of seawater electrolysis requires high-performing anode materials that should possess good catalytic activity, stability, and specificity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) as well as high resistance toward chloride corrosion. Herein, the design of a multilayered oxygen-evolution electrode is reported to meet the multiple needs of anode material for saline water splitting. The multilayered electrode is synthesized through direct thermal boronization of commercially available NiFe alloy plate with boron powder, followed by electrochemical oxidation. And this electrode is composed of the surface oxidized NiFeBx alloy layer, the NiFeBx alloy interlayer, and the NiFe alloy substrate. The boron species are present in the form of metaborate in the outermost oxidized NiFeBx layer, and their existence is conductive to the generation and stabilization of the catalytic active phase γ-(Ni,Fe)OOH. The introduction of NiFeBx interlayer effectively prevents the excessive oxidative corrosion of the anode material in the electrolyte containing chloride ions.