Electronic Modulation–Driven Dual Self‐Reconstruction Neural‐Like NiFe Sulfides for Durable and Efficient Alkalized Water Splitting

ABSTRACT Surface reconstruction is pivotal to forming active sites during the electrocatalytic process of water splitting, yet achieving controllable reconstruction toward highly active and durable catalytic states remains challenging. Herein, we report a Fe 9 Ni 9 S 16 ‐(Ni,Fe)S/PNFF pre‐catalyst that undergoes flexible dual self‐reconstruction into V‐(Ni,Fe) 3 S 2 (sulfur‐defect:V) under cathodic and γ‐(Ni,Fe)OOH‐SO 4 2− under anodic conditions. In‐situ/ex‐situ characterizations and theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Fe incorporation modulates the Ni d‐band center, which promotes sulfur vacancy formation, enhances H* adsorption, and accelerates the HER kinetics. Concurrently, the SO 4 2− species adsorbed on γ‐(Ni,Fe)OOH inhibit OH − adsorption and promote O* to OOH conversion, boosting OER performance. Benefiting from this synergy, the catalyst achieves low overpotentials of 420 mV (HER) and 391 mV (OER) at 2 A cm −2 in 1 M KOH, and operates stably over 1000 h at 1 A cm −2 . Furthermore, in an anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) device, a cell voltage of 2.05 V is achieved at 1000 mA cm −2 with a stable operation over 200 h at 60°C (6 M KOH). This work offers a dual self‐reconstruction strategy for engineering chalcogenide electrocatalysts toward an efficient, durable overall water splitting.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2026-07-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.77229
Primary Topic
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Electronic Modulation–Driven Dual Self‐Reconstruction Neural‐Like NiFe Sulfides for Durable and Efficient Alkalized Water Splitting

Zhong‐Jie Jiang, Jun Huang, Yi Guo, Ruixian Liu et al.
Advanced Functional Materials
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
article

Electronic Modulation–Driven Dual Self‐Reconstruction Neural‐Like NiFe Sulfides for Durable and Efficient Alkalized Water Splitting

Zhong‐Jie Jiang, Jun Huang, Yi Guo, Ruixian Liu, Yi-Xiang Wang, Hua Wei, Hongye Yang, Guangliang Chen
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Surface reconstruction is pivotal to forming active sites during the electrocatalytic process of water splitting, yet achieving controllable reconstruction toward highly active and durable catalytic states remains challenging. Herein, we report a Fe 9 Ni 9 S 16 ‐(Ni,Fe)S/PNFF pre‐catalyst that undergoes flexible dual self‐reconstruction into V‐(Ni,Fe) 3 S 2 (sulfur‐defect:V) under cathodic and γ‐(Ni,Fe)OOH‐SO 4 2− under anodic conditions. In‐situ/ex‐situ characterizations and theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Fe incorporation modulates the Ni d‐band center, which promotes sulfur vacancy formation, enhances H* adsorption, and accelerates the HER kinetics. Concurrently, the SO 4 2− species adsorbed on γ‐(Ni,Fe)OOH inhibit OH − adsorption and promote O* to OOH conversion, boosting OER performance. Benefiting from this synergy, the catalyst achieves low overpotentials of 420 mV (HER) and 391 mV (OER) at 2 A cm −2 in 1 M KOH, and operates stably over 1000 h at 1 A cm −2 . Furthermore, in an anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) device, a cell voltage of 2.05 V is achieved at 1000 mA cm −2 with a stable operation over 200 h at 60°C (6 M KOH). This work offers a dual self‐reconstruction strategy for engineering chalcogenide electrocatalysts toward an efficient, durable overall water splitting.

Advanced Functional Materials
University of Science and Technology of China (CN), Hangzhou Normal University (CN), Gannan Normal University (CN), Zhejiang Institute of Science and Technology Information (CN), Hefei Material Science and Technology Center (CN), South China University of Technology (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 23%
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
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