It is critical for converting renewable electricity into
chemicals
and fuels to develop electrocatalysts with good reactivity and high
stability for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) using a cost-effective
and straightforward manner. Here, we successfully fabricated W-doped
α-Ni(OH)2 honeycomb-like microstructures deposited
on nickel foam (NF) using an easy and fast one-step electrodeposition
approach. Some parameters affecting the morphology and OER activity
of the target product were systematically investigated, including
the initial nickel source, the deposition time, and the deposition
current density. It was found that W-doped α-Ni(OH)2 honeycomb-like microstructures deposited from the NiSO4 solution at −100 mA cm–2 for 15 min manifested
the strongest electrocatalytic OER capability. In 1.0 M KOH, only
170/209 mV of overpotential was required for the as-obtained W-Ni(OH)2/NF electrode to launch a current density of 10/100 mA cm–2, respectively, outperforming most previously reported
electrocatalysts. Also, the as-prepared catalyst showed outstanding
long-term stability without attenuation over 400 h at a large current
density of 250 mA cm–2. Distinctly, the present
electrochemical deposition technology paves a facile and fast pathway
for preparing nonprecious metal OER electrocatalysts with high electroactivity.