Serpentine Ni3Ge2O5(OH)4 Nanosheets Grow on Porous Mo2N for an Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Transition-metal-based layered serpentine materials are promising as cheap and active electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, the serpentine materials have poor conductivity and chemical stability, which induce that the activity and stability of these materials are not favorable. Herein, Ni3Ge2O5(OH)(4) nanosheets are designed to grow on highly conductive porous Mo2N materials to form composite catalysts for the electrochemical OER. The fabrication of Mo2N/ Ni3Ge2O5(OH)(4) is achieved via facile hydrothermal methods, and a series of characterizations show that the Ni3Ge2O5(OH)(4) nanosheets are anchored on porous Mo2N. The as-synthesized composite materials show a remarkably reduced OER over-potential and improved durability compared to pure Ni3Ge2O5(OH)(4) in an alkaline electrolyte. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectra reveal that Mo2N can efficiently promote the charge transmission and act as a stable substrate to maintain the electrochemical activity. This study provides a facile strategy to design composite-layered serpentine catalysts for an efficient OER.