Ni3Fe nanoparticles enclosed by B-doped carbon for efficient bifunctional performances of oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions

Abstract The fabrication of highly active and environmentally friendly electrocatalysts for both oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions is essential for the improvement of energy generation. In this study, a one-pot synthesis of boron-doped carbon-enclosed Ni3Fe nanoparticles with bifunctional activity for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions is reported. The as-fabricated Ni3Fe@BC displays higher OER and HER electrochemical activities in an alkaline media, thereby suggesting a synergy between the Fe and Ni components. Ni3Fe@BC that was carbonized at 500 °C shows relatively small overpotentials of 280 mV and 0.33 V at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for OER and HER, respectively. Chronoamperometric testing of the nanoparticles for both OER and HER activity revealed promising stability for 20 h. The catalytic performance of Ni3Fe@BC-500 °C is attributed to the doping outcome of boron (B) and the synergistically bonded metal ions of interest (Fe + Ni), which may have enhanced the catalytic sites. The one-pot fabrication from cheap component sources renders the as-fabricated Ni3Fe@BC highly promising for OER and HER electrocatalysis applications.