Interface-Engineered CeO2/NiFe LDH hierarchical nanoflowers as robust OER catalysts for practical water splitting

The sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media limits the efficiency of water electrolysis, particularly for layered double hydroxides (LDHs). Here, we construct a CeO 2 /NiFe LDH multilevel nanoflower heterostructure via interfacial engineering. The formation of the CeO 2 /NiFe LDH heterointerface induces electronic redistribution, while the CeO 2 nanoflower architecture anchors NiFe LDH nanosheets, increasing structural stability. As a result, CeO 2 -0.4/NiFe LDH delivers 100 mA cm −2 at an overpotential of only 259 mV, outperforming pristine NiFe LDH (289 mV), and maintains stable operation for over 100 h. Furthermore, it exhibits strong resistance to Cl – corrosion during seawater electrolysis and demonstrates high efficiency and durability in an anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) under industrially relevant conditions.