Hydrogen production is one of the most effective methods for combating the global energy crisis. However, improving the electrochemical performance of oxygen-evolution catalysts is a significant challenge. In this paper, exceptionally active electrocatalysts for oxygen-evolution reactions (OERs) were successfully developed and characterized by using SEM, TEM, XRD, BET, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The nitrogen-doped hollow-carbon-encapsulated bimetallic nanoparticles (MM'-NHCNPs) were prepared by using folic acid coordination polymerization. The hollow structure and the synergistic effect of bimetallic doping exhibited remarkable catalytic performance and outstanding stability for the OER in a 1.0 m KOH alkaline electrolyte. For the OER, the overpotential of the best catalyst was only 350 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 with a small Tafel slope of 58 mV dec-1 . High durability was also demonstrated by the MM'-NHCNPs. Such an MM'-NHCNP catalyst with excellent electrochemical properties provides a promising material for OERs.
Keywords: electrocatalysts; electrochemistry; green chemistry; nanostructures; oxygen evolution.
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