Robust FeCo alloy aerogels for industrial-grade water oxidation Electrocatalysis

The development of efficient oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts capable of operating at industrial-level current densities (1 A cm −2 ) remains a major bottleneck for clean energy. This work tackles this challenge by constructing three-dimensional FeCo alloy aerogels via a straightforward co-reduction strategy. The unique porous architecture of the optimized Fe1Co2 catalyst enables unparalleled electron and mass transport, registering merely 333 mV even under a high current density of 1 A cm −2 . Moreover, the Fe1Co2 product delivers an outstanding endurability of 120 h continuous voltage output under 1 A cm −2 . Similarly noteworthy is its mass activity, which reaches 226.1 A g −1 at an overpotential of 300 mV. This value exceeds those of commercial benchmark catalysts IrO 2 and RuO 2 by factors of 14.1 and 12.1, respectively. Furthermore, an electrolyzer assembled with Fe1Co2 as the anode and 40%Pt/C as the cathode operates at a lower cell voltage than systems employing noble-metal anodes, confirming its viability for industrial water splitting.