Intellectually constructing amorphous NiCoP dendrites for efficient oxygen evolution reaction.

[Display omitted] • Amorphous NiCoP dendrites were homogenously in-situ grown on nickel foam (NiCoP@NF) through a smart electroless plating strategy. • The NiCoP@NF could afford a j of 10 mA cm−2 at a low η of 0.263 V. • A greatly decreased charge transfer resistance of 1.53 Ω cm2 at 1.553 V was achieved. • This material shows a better stability, a higher MA and a larger TOF than its pristine counterpart. • The underlying mechanism credited for the enhanced OER performance are explored. Developing cost-effective and precious-metal-free nanomaterials capable of efficiently driving oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is pivotal in the ultimate pursuit of desirable electrochemical devices. Herein, amorphous NiCoP dendrites were homogenously in-situ constructed on nickel foam (NiCoP@NF) through a smart electroless plating strategy. The NiCoP@NF is highly active and stable toward OER, where a greatly decreased charge transfer resistance of 1.53 Ω cm2 at 1.553 V, a comparably lowered overpotential (η) of 263 mV and a good long-term stability of 12 h with negligible degradation at a current density (j) of 10 mA cm−2 are achieved relative to its counterpart, together with a remarkably enhanced turnover frequency (TOF) of 1.74 s−1 and a considerably increased mass activity (MA) of 154.5 A g−1 at a η of 0.27 V. The exceptional performance originates from the unique architecture of NiCoP@NF and synergistic interplay of Ni and Co with an appropriate atomic ratio, where the dendrites not only ensure substantial exposed active sites, but also guarantee fast mass transport and reduced contact resistance, while the synergy moderately tunes the electronic structure to lower the activation energy for reaction kinetics with optimal adsorption and desorption processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]