In Situ Electrodeposition of Ultralow Pt into NiFe-Metal-Organic Framework/Nickel Foam Nanosheet Arrays as a Bifunctional Catalyst for Overall Water Splitting

Exploring highly effective bifunctional electrocatalysts with surface structural advantages and synergistic optimization effects among multimetals is greatly important for overall water splitting. Herein, we successfully synthesized Pt-loaded NiFe-metal-organic framework nanosheet arrays grown on nickel foam (Pt–NiFe-MOF/NF) via a facile hydrothermal-electrodeposition process. Benefiting from large exposed specific surface, optimal electrical conductivity and efficient metal-support interaction endow Pt–NiFe-MOF/NF with highly catalytic performance, exhibiting small overpotential of 261 mV toward oxygen evolution reaction and 125 mV toward hydrogen evolution reaction at a current density of 100 mA cm–2 in alkaline medium. More significantly, the assembled water electrolyzer comprising the Pt–NiFe-MOF/NF//Pt–NiFe-MOF/NF couple demands a low cell voltage of 1.45 V to reach 10 mA cm–2. This work renders a viable approach to design dual-functional electrocatalysts with exceptional electrocatalytic activity and stability at high current density, showing the great prospect of water electrolysis for commercial application.