Nickel-iron-oxide thin films as an electrocatalyst for water oxidation

Abstract

A method of generating oxygen including applying a potential of greater than 0 to 2.0 V to an electrochemical cell, where the electrochemical cell is at least partially submerged in an aqueous solution, and where on applying the potential the aqueous solution is oxidized thereby forming oxygen. The electrochemical cell includes an electrocatalyst; and a counter electrode. The electrocatalyst includes a nickel foam substrate; and a layer of particles of FeNiOx on a surface of the nickel foam substrate, wherein x=3-4. The particles of FeNiOx have a nanorod shape with an average diameter of 100-500 nanometers (nm) and a length longer than 500 nm. The terminal end of the nanorod shape has a cap with a hemispherical shape having a diameter larger than the average diameter of the nanorod shape.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.