Encapsulating Nickel‐Iron Alloy Nanoparticles in a Polysilazane‐Derived Micro‐/Mesoporous Si‐C‐O‐N‐Based Support to Stimulate Superior OER Activity

The in situ confinement of nickel (Ni)-iron (Fe) nanoparticles (NPs) in a polymer-derived microporous silicon carboxynitride (Si-C-O-N)-based support is investigated to stimulate superior oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity in an alkaline media. Firstly, we consider a commercial polysilazane (PSZ) and Ni and Fe chlorides to be mixed in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and deliver after overnight solvent reflux a series of Ni-Fe : organosilicon coordination polymers. The latter are then heat-treated at 500 °C in flowing argon to form the title compounds. By considering a Ni : Fe ratio of 1.5, face centred cubic (fcc) Ni