Dual-metal NiCo nanoparticles in B-doped carbon layers as efficient and durable electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

[Display omitted] •The Ni1Co3@BC hybrid were prepared with ultrasonic stripping and pyrolysis methods.•The B-doped graphitization structure plays additional active sites for OER activity.•Ni1Co3@BC hybrid exhibits the excellent durability, due to internal active sites were protected coming from the carbon layers. Designing and construction of efficient and robust non-noble-metal electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a pivotal approach in water splitting process. This work developed the dual-metal material system of Ni-Co nanoparticles wrapped in B-doped carbon (Ni1Co3@BC) through simple and economical pyrolysis process for nanosheets NiCo metal-organic framework (Ni1Co3-BDC) precursor. The constitution and structure of characterization were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope, indicating the homogeneous alloy and less metal boride phase and B doped graphitization structure for Ni1Co3@BC. An optimized Ni1Co3@BC exhibited extraordinary OER performance, providing an overpotential as small as 309 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, a low Tafel slope of 62 mV dec−1 and excellent stability in 1.0 M KOH solution, which attributed to the synergistic effect of inner NiCo alloy, NiCo boride nanoparticles and external B doping carbon structure. The formation of B doped carbon layer not only provides additional active sites but also protects inner metal alloys. This work clearly stated the design and synthesis of desired-morphology features catalysts from controlled MOFs for energy conversation and storage.