Nickel-Iron Nitride-Nickel Sulfide Composites for Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysis.

Advance applications like water splitting system and rechargeable metal-air battery are highly dependent on efficient electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Heterostructured materials, with a high active surface area and electron effect, accomplish enhanced catalytic performance. Here, a nitride-sulfide composite (FeNi3N-Ni3S2) has been prepared by a simple hydrothermal process coupled with nitridation. The prepared composite electrocatalyst FeNi3N-Ni3S2 possesses lower electron densities compared to those of FeNi3N and Ni3S2, lessening the activation energy (Ea) toward the OER. Consequently, the prepared FeNi3N-Ni3S2 exhibits excellent OER performance with a low overpotential (230 mV) and a small Tafel slope (38 mV dec-1). Highly stable FeNi3N-Ni3S2 composite delivers lower charging voltage and extended lifetime in rechargeable Zn-air battery, compared with IrO2.