Electrocatalytic properties of ultrathin FeSe2/Ni0·85Se heterostructure hollow nanobelts for oxygen evolution in alkaline water and simulated seawater

Research into cost-effective electrocatalysts for alkaline water and simulated seawater oxidation is paramount for advancing the conversion and storage of renewable energy. In this study, a FeSe 2 /Ni 0·85 Se catalyst with the hollow and ultrathin nanobelts structure is synthesized. The distinctive structure characteristics of FeSe 2 /Ni 0·85 Se heterojunction nanobelts confer exceptional oxygen evolution reaction (OER) properties in diverse electrolytes, including alkaline 1 M KOH and simulated seawater (1 M KOH + 0.5 M NaCl) solutions. The FeSe 2 /Ni 0·85 Se catalyst presents the low overpotentials of 259 and 267 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm −2 , along with the Tafel slopes of 33.7 and 65.5 mV dec −1 in two solutions, respectively. Additionally, the FeSe 2 /Ni 0·85 Se catalyst also demonstrates good stability. This exploration introduces a promising strategy for the development of high-performance electrocatalysts in the realm of green energy, marking the significant progress towards sustainable energy solutions.