Developing high-performance and low-cost electrocatalysts
for the
oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and urea oxidation reaction (UOR)
is essential for hydrogen production. Herein, we prepared Zn,S-incorporated
Fe,Co layered double hydroxide (ZnCoFeS–LDH) nanosheets on
nickel foam via a two-step hydrothermal reaction. The attractive two-dimensional
(2D) nanosheet morphology with ultrathin thickness offers abundant
active sites, promotes the adsorption and desorption of intermediates
on the surface, and also facilitates mass transportation. The electronic
structure of ZnCoFeS–LDH was modified, which thus improves
their conductivity, offers high-valence iron ions (Fe3+), and therefore intrinsically enhances their electrocatalytic properties.
In particular, the constructed crystalline/amorphous interfaces benefit
electron transfer between different phases. As a proof of concept,
we examined the electrocatalytic performances of ZnCoFeS–LDH
nanostructures to both the OER and UOR. As a result, the ZnCoFeS–LDH
nanosheets exhibit excellent catalytic OER activity, with low overpotentials
of 202, 217, 238, and 261 mV to achieve current densities of 10, 20,
50, and 100 mA cm–2, respectively, which are remarkably
enhanced in comparison with that of commercial RuO2. Furthermore,
they also demonstrate outstanding durability after long-term (48 h)
and cycling (5000 cycles) measurements. Moreover, the ZnCoFeS–LDH
nanosheets also possess superior UOR activity. The potentials were
measured to be as low as 1.313, 1.334, 1.366, and 1.398 V to reach
current densities of 10, 20, 50, and 100 mA cm–2, respectively, with high long-term stability after 20 h.