Biomass derived amino acid assisted synthesis of FeNi layered double hydroxide for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Iron-nickel layered double hydroxides (FeNi LDHs) are attractive alternatives to precious metals for sustainable and cost-effective oxygen evolution reaction catalysts due to their availability, environmental friendliness, and high catalytic potential. This work hydrothermally synthesizes a highly effective FeNi LDH electrocatalyst using amino acids derived from biomass as morphology-directing agents. Amino acids helped produce sheet-like nanostructures, improve electrostatic interactions in LDH layers, and optimize electrocatalytic characteristics. The resulting FeNi LDH nanosheets exhibited remarkable OER performance, achieving an overpotential of 324 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 100 mV dec⁻¹. Additionally, the catalyst demonstrated excellent stability, maintaining high performance for over 10 h of continuous operation in a 1 M KOH electrolyte. These results underscore the potential of amino-acid-assisted FeNi LDHs as scalable and effective electrocatalysts for water splitting and clean energy applications, offering a promising avenue toward developing sustainable energy technologies.