Synthesis and catalytic properties of Ni-doped NdFeO3

The study aims to develop efficient and durable electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) to address the issue of energy shortage and environmental pollution. The perovskite NdFe1-xNixO3 was synthesized via the sol-gel method and assessed for its electrocatalytic activity towards OER. The prepared catalysts were characterized using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrochemical methods such as linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and chronopotentiometry. The results showed that the NdFe1-xNixO3 compounds calcined at 800 degrees C had a pure orthorhombic crystal structure throughout the entire substitution range, with a nearly spherical morphology. The average sizes of crystallites have been estimated to be 19-24 +/- 0.5 nm. Notably, the NdFe0.8Ni0.2O3 electrode demonstrated superior electroactivity, exhibiting the lowest over potential (310 mV versus RHE) needed to attain a current density of 10 mA.cm(-2), the lowest Tafel slope 149 mV.dec(-1), and good stability during 60 h. These findings provide valuable elucidations into the advancement and design high-performance electrocatalysts for sustainable energy conversion and storage applications.