Surface modification of NiCo2Te4 nanoclusters: a highly efficient electrocatalyst for overall water-splitting in neutral solution

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, we for the first time report the catalytic activity and durability of nickel cobaltite telluride (NiCo2Te4) nanocluster bifunctional catalysts can be significantly boosted by surface modification with perylene-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride for overall water-splitting in neutral solution. We reveal that tuning energy distribution of nanoclusters via a simple surface ligand can drastically increase the catalytic activity towards efficient hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction simultaneously. A two-electrode based water electrolysis cell using this newly developed nanocluster catalyst operates at a low bias voltage of 1.55 V to achieve a current density of 10 mA·cm−2 in near-neutral pH solution for overall water-splitting. This, to the best of our knowledge, represents the most efficient mixed-transition-metal-based electrode that has so far been reported for electrochemical water splitting.