Boosting electrocatalytic performance of CoFe hydroxide catalyst by P-doping for oxygen evolution

•A simple one-step solvothermal method for the preparation of P-doped LDH oxygen analysing catalysts is proposed.•The influence mechanism of the improvement of the performance and stability of the P-doped LDH catalyst was revealed.•P-doped CoFe LDH improved OER performance and stability in alkaline electrolyte. As one of the most favorable catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline electrolytes, cobalt iron layered double hydroxide (CoFe LDH) stands out among the others. Yet its catalytic activity still needs improvement. In this paper, doping of non-metallic elements is introduced to enhance its catalytic activity for OER. Using a one-step solvothermal method, P-doped CoFe layered double hydroxide (P-doped CoFe LDH) was synthesized and grown on nickel foam (NF). P-doped CoFe LDH/NF exhibits superior catalytic activity for oxygen evolution relative to CoFe LDH/NF prepared using the same method. A high current density of 300 mA cm-2 only requires an overpotential of 347 mV. Compared with CoFe LDH/NF (367 mV), this is dramatically smaller. XPS analyses indicate that the contents of Co3+ and Fe3+ high oxidation state species in P-doped CoFe LDH/NF are obviously higher than that in CoFe LDH/NF. Stability tests demonstrated P-doped CoFe LDH kept 72 h. And surfaces of P-doped CoFe LDH had interconnected porous two-dimensional nanosheet structures, which contributed to stable nature of the electrode. Our work provides the strategy of P doping to enhance OER performance for LDH-based electrocatalysts. [Display omitted] Short text: P-doped CoFe LDH nanosheets were prepared in situ by a one-step solvothermal method based on a nickel foam metal skeleton structure, and an OER catalyst was designed to be stable for a long period of time in alkaline media at high current densities. After 72 h long term electrolysis test, it still maintains good stability. Eye-catching figure: P-doped CoFe LDH nanosheets were prepared in situ by a one-step solvothermal method based on a nickel foam metal skeleton structure, and an OER catalyst was designed to be stable for a long period of time in alkaline media at high current densities. After 72 h long term electrolysis test, it still maintains good stability.