Ti-MXene/α-Ni(OH)2 nanostructures as high performance electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction.

Abstract

Herein, the strategy of homogenous inclusion of nanoparticles within the surface and interlayers of 2D MXenes was established to achieve effective OER performance. A greater quantity of ~6 nm sized Ni(OH)2 particles uniformly anchored on multi-layered accordion-like nanosheets of Ti3C2Tx. The strong interconnection of Ni(OH)2 on Ti3C2Tx promoting synergistic effects and improves electron transfer properties alongside the intrinsic OER activity. The Ti3C2Tx-Ni(OH)2-4 demonstrated remarkable OER activity by exhibiting a lower overpotential (235.54 mV at 10 mA/cm2) in alkaline conditions. Increased ECSA (2.925 mF cm-2), lower charge transfer resistance, lowering the reaction barrier and stabilizing/converting essential intermediates via the Ti3C2Tx-Ni(OH)2 electrocatalyst synergistically improve OER activity. The effective interaction between Ti3C2Tx and Ni(OH)2 in Ti3C2Tx-Ni(OH)2 improves stability during long-term operations. Moreover, a Ti3C2Tx-Ni(OH)2-4||Pt/C cell has 1.7V at 10 mA/cm2. It could be deduced that the usage of Ni(OH)2 as an electrocatalyst together with Ti3C2Tx can provide noteworthy water splitting properties.