Electrochemically Aged Ni Electrodes Supporting NiFe2O4 Nanoparticles for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

The preparation and screening of nanoparticle (NP) electrocatalysts for improved electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reactions (OER) will require a better understanding and optimization of the interactions between NPs and their support. First-row transition metals are used extensively as electrocatalysts in electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems. These electrocatalysts undergo transformations in their phase and surface morphology, which are induced by oxidizing potentials in the alkaline medium. A template-assisted approach to prepare electrodes with regular surface morphologies was used to monitor interactions between the NPs and their support both before and after prolonged electrochemical aging. A template-assisted method was used to prepare uniform surface inclusions of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) NPs on conductive nickel (Ni) supports for evaluation towards the OER. Electron microscopy-based methods were used to assess the resulting transformations of the embedded NPs within the Ni support ...