Mild synthesis of NiFe phosphide nanosheets with superior oxygen evolution reaction efficiency and stability

Transition metal phosphides have garnered significant attention as cost-effective alternatives to noble metal catalysts for oxygen evolution reactions (OER). In this study, we developed a novel NiFe phosphide (NiFeP) nanosheet catalyst grown on nickel foam (NF) through an in-situ process followed by phosphidation. The resulting nanosheet array grows vertically from the NF surface, with densely packed, porous nanosheet, ensuring strong substrate adhesion. This architecture enhances electron transfer, exposes abundant catalytic sites and boosts conductivity. The catalyst exhibits exceptional OER performance, with an overpotential of 185 mV at 10 mA cm −2 , and maintains stability at 300 mA cm −2 over 40 h. This method simplifies synthesis of self-supported NiFeP/NF with enhanced crystallinity under mild conditions while delivering superior catalytic activity and durability compared to most reported NiFe-based phosphide catalysts. The NiFeP/NF emerges as a scalable alternative for hydrogen production, offering valuable insights into the design of advanced electrocatalysts for efficient water splitting.