High efficiency UOR electrocatalyst based on crossed nanosheet structured FeCo-LDH for hydrogen production

To improve efficiency of hydrogen production, other anodic reactions with lower theoretical potential like urea oxidation reaction (UOR) to replace OER were explored. Herein, we synthesized FeCo layered double hydroxide (FeCo-LDH) in situ on nickel foam (NF) that had excellent OER and UOR catalytic ability and durability. The good catalytic performance can be attributed to the special crossed nanosheet structured FeCo-LDH with large specific surface area, rapid electron transfer. At the current density of 50 mA cm−2, the overpotential is 228 mV during OER, and the voltage value is 1.353 V vs. RHE during UOR. When FeCo-LDH was used as electrocatalyst, the voltages required for water and urea electrolysis to reach the current density of 10 mA cm−2 are 1.523 V and 1.409 V, respectively. The strategy of constructing FeCo-LDH on NF plays an important role in high efficiency hydrogen production, and has great application prospects in sustainable energy efficient conversion.