Optimizing electrochemical power generation: Harnessing synergies and surface innovation in NiTe-modified MOF nanoarchitectures

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered potential electrocatalysts due to their high specific surface area (SSA) and the facilitation of efficient synergistic interactions. In this work, we have implemented a simple and cost-effective surface modification approach to design an efficient electrocatalyst for energy-conversion technologies, specifically water splitting. This work focuses on engineering a novel NiTe functionalized MOF structure wherein NiTe within the MOF channels is the core material, intricately intertwined with highly dispersed Ni particles enveloped by Ni MOF. This fusion of MOFs and NiTe within a designed configuration produces an efficient electrocatalyst with synergistic and surface interface effects and demonstrates bifunctional activity for water splitting. Among the prepared catalysts, one of the resulting catalysts (named Ni MOF/Ni/Ni10Te8) exhibits a low overpotential of 99 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 180 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), both benchmarked against RHE @10 mA cm−2. This performance remains steady, with a stability of 99 % after 15 h of continuous operation. Furthermore, the Ni MOF/Ni/Ni10Te8 catalyst also operates in seawater electrocatalysis, requiring a low overpotential of 440 mV at 10 mA cm−2 to produce 70 mL of hydrogen and 34 mL of oxygen. Equally noteworthy are the Faradaic efficiencies achieved, with hydrogen production at 95.7 % and oxygen production at 92.9 %. Developing efficient and economically viable electrocatalysts like the Ni MOF/Ni/NiTe catalyst will advance a cleaner and more sustainable future. [Display omitted] •MOF-Ni10Te8nanostructures are prepared using a simple hydrothermal process.•HER: Overpotential (99 mV vs. RHE@10 mAcm−2) & a Tafel slope (73 mVdec−1).•OER: Overpotential (180 mV vs. RHE@10 mAcm−2) & a Tafel slope of 70 mVdec−1.•Versatility in Harsh Environments: Water and seawater electrocatalysis.•Stability and Reliability were exhibited over extended periods.