Multiple metallic dopants in nickel nanoparticles for electrocatalytic oxygen evolution

Developing efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is of great importance for sustainable energy conversion and storage. Ni-based catalysts have shown great potential as OER electrocatalysts, but their performance still needs to be improved. Herein, we report the multiple metal doped nickel nanoparticles synthesized via a simple oil phase strategy as efficient OER catalysts. The FeMnMoV–Ni exhibits superior OER performance with an overpotential of 220 ​mV at 10 ​mA ​cm−2 and a long-term stability of 250 ​h in 1 ​M KOH solution. In situ Raman analysis shows that the NiOOH site works as the active center and multiple metallic dopants facilitate the formation of NiOOH. Mo and V dopants promote the formation of high-valence state of Ni sites, and Mn dopants increase the electrochemical active surface area and expose more active sites. This work provides a novel strategy for catalyst design, which is critical for developing multiple metal doped catalysts. Based on Fe doped Ni catalysts (Fe–Ni nanoparticles), we introduce multiple metal dopants using a simple oil phase strategy in this study. The Fe–Ni nanoparticles, with other 3 dopants of Mn, Mo, and V, show an overpotential of 220 ​mV at 10 ​mA ​cm−2. [Display omitted] •Multiple metal doped catalysts were synthesized via a simple oil phase strategy.•Mo and V dopants promote the formation of high-valence state of Ni sites.•Mn dopants increase the electrochemical active surface area and expose more active sites.•Multiple metal dopants promote the formation of active sites NiOOH.