The (In)Stability of Heterostructures During the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

The urgent need for efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts has led to the development and publication of many heterostructured catalysts. The application of such catalysts with multiple phases tremendously increases the material design dimensions, and numerous interface-related effects can tune the OER performance. In this regard, multiple of these heterostructured electrodes show remarkable OER activities. However, it is not clear if these carefully designed interfaces remain under prolonged OER conditions. Herein, a molecular approach is used to synthesize four different nickel-iron phosphide (heterostructured) materials and deposit them on fluorine-doped tin oxide and nickel foam electrodes. The OER performance of the eight electrodes and the reconstruction of the four materials is investigated by in-situ spectroscopy after one day of operation, enabled by a freeze-quench approach. The most active electrode is also applied under industrial OER conditions and for the value-added oxidation of alcohols to ketones. Before catalysis, this electrode comprises crystalline 4 nm nickel phosphide particles on an amorphous iron phosphide matrix. However, after 24 h, a homogenous nickel-iron oxyhydroxide phase has formed. This work questions to which extent the design of heterostructures is a suitable strategy for non-noble metal OER catalysis.