Role of the heterogenous structure of ZnO/MnFeO3 in enhancing Bi-functional electrocatalyst for alkaline water electrolysis

Abstract

An electrocatalyst, Zn-doped 3D porous MnFeO3, is developed and investigated for its efficacy in alkaline water electrolysis. The electrocatalyst is synthesized through a sol-gel method and characterized comprehensively. Incorporating zinc (Zn) doping enhances the electrocatalytic activity of the MnFeO3 structure, rendering it suitable for bifunctional performance in alkaline water electrolysis. The Zn-doped 3D porous MnFeO3 was studied electrochemically, and the results showed that it has a very low overpotential of 460 mV for OER and 441 mV for HER in order to achieve a current density of 100 mA cm−2, conducted in a 1 M KOH medium. The catalyst’s porous 3D structure offers a large surface area, enhancing its ability to interact with the electrolyte and promote H2 and O2 gas evolution. The Zn-doped 3D porous MnFeO3 exhibits improved stability for 24 h, with only a 17% loss in current density at 10 mA cm−2. The electrochemical performance of the Zn-doped 3D porous MnFeO3 electrocatalyst is evaluated through various electrochemical techniques, highlighting its promising potential for practical applications in alkaline water electrolysis systems.