LAUSR

Abstract The fabrication of highly active and environmentally friendly electrocatalysts for both oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions is essential for the improvement of energy generation. In this study, a one-pot synthesis of boron-doped carbon-enclosed Ni3Fe nanoparticles with bifunctional activity for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions is reported. The as-fabricated Ni3Fe@BC displays higher OER and HER electrochemical activities in an alkaline media, thereby suggesting a synergy between the Fe and Ni components. Ni3Fe@BC that was carbonized at 500 °C shows relatively small overpotentials of 280 mV and 0.33 V at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for OER and HER, respectively. Chronoamperometric testing of the nanoparticles for both OER and HER activity revealed promising stability for 20 h. The catalytic performance of Ni3Fe@BC-500 °C is attributed to the doping outcome of boron (B) and the synergistically bonded metal ions of interest (Fe + Ni), which may have enhanced the catalytic sites. The one-pot fabrication from cheap component sources renders the as-fabricated Ni3Fe@BC highly promising for OER and HER electrocatalysis applications.