najoNanosystems: Physics, Chemistry, MathematicsНаносистемы: физика, химия, математика2220-80542305-7971Университет ИТМО10.17586/2220-8054-2026-17-4-495-507najo-1912Research ArticleCHEMISTRY AND MATERIALS SCIENCEХИМИЯ И НАУКА О МАТЕРИАЛАХMagnetic fluid-assisted CoFeNi/NF bifunctional electrocatalyst for high-efficiency water splitting in alkaline mediumМагнитожидкостный бифункциональный электрокатализатор CoFeNi-MF/NF для высокоэффективного расщепления воды в щелочной средеhttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-0015-1848ХошимовФ.HoshimovF.

Farhodjon Hoshimov

Chingiz Aytmatov 2B St., Tashkent, 100084; Tashkent, 100000; Bodomzor Yuli 2B St., Tashkent, 100084

 

farhod2702@gmail.comhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1805-9089БутановХ.ButanovKh.

Khakimjan Butanov

Chingiz Aytmatov 2B St., Tashkent, 100084

kh.butanov@imssolar.uzhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9694-4430МаматкуловШ.MamatkulovSh.

Shavkat Mamatkulov

Chingiz Aytmatov 2B St., Tashkent, 100084

mi-shavkat@yandex.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9186-9080РузимурадовО.RuzimuradovO.

Olim Ruzimuradov

Tashkent, 100095

o.ruzimuradov@polito.uzInstitute of Materials Science, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences; Institute of Fundamental and Applied Research, National Research University TIIAME; National Research Institute of Renewable Energy Sources, Ministry of EnergyUzbekistanInstitute of Materials Science, Uzbekistan Academy of SciencesUzbekistanTurin Polytechnic University in TashkentUzbekistan202631082026174495507Copyright © Hoshimov F., Butanov K., Mamatkulov S., Ruzimuradov O., 20262026Хошимов Ф., Бутанов Х., Маматкулов Ш., Рузимурадов О.Hoshimov F., Butanov K., Mamatkulov S., Ruzimuradov O.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://nanojournal.ifmo.ru/jour/article/view/1912

Developing efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts is vital for scalable hydrogen production via overall water splitting. Here, a magnetic-fluid-assisted CoFeNi–MF/NF catalyst was synthesized through a two-step hydrothermal process by integrating Fe3O4-based magnetic fluid into vertically aligned CoFeNi nanosheets on nickel foam. Structural analyses confirmed the formation of an FCC CoFeNi alloy coupled with spinel Fe3O4, creating an interconnected architecture with abundant active sites. Magnetic-fluid incorporation enhanced charge transfer, oxygen content, and electron/spin polarization, enabling faster catalytic kinetics.  In 1.0 M KOH, CoFeNi–MF/NF delivered low overpotentials of 169 mV for HER and 199 mV for OER at 10 mA·cm−2, along with Tafel slopes of 133.09 and 91.41 mV·dec−1. The catalyst also showed low charge-transfer resistance and enlarged electrochemically active surface area. Durable operation at 100 mA·cm−2 for 24 h further confirmed its stability. This work presents a promising strategy for designing magnetic-responsive, non-noblemetal electrocatalysts for alkaline water splitting.

Разработка эффективных бифункциональных электрокатализаторов имеет ключевое значение для масштабируемого производства водорода методом полного расщепления воды. В данной работе катализатор CoFeNi-MF/NF, модифицированный магнитной жидкостью, был синтезирован двухстадийным гидротермальным методом путем интеграции магнитной жидкости на основе Fe₃O₄ в вертикально ориентированные нанолисты CoFeNi, выращенные на никелевой пене. Структурный анализ подтвердил формирование сплава CoFeNi с гранецентрированной кубической решеткой (FCC) в сочетании со шпинельной фазой Fe₃O₄, образующих взаимосвязанную архитектуру с большим количеством активных центров. Введение магнитной жидкости способствовало улучшению переноса заряда, увеличению содержания кислорода, а также усилению электронной и спиновой поляризации, что обеспечило ускоренную кинетику электрокаталитических реакций. В растворе 1,0 М KOH катализатор CoFeNi-MF/NF продемонстрировал низкие перенапряжения 169 мВ для реакции выделения водорода (HER) и 199 мВ для реакции выделения кислорода (OER) при плотности тока 10 мА·см⁻². Значения наклонов Тафеля составили 133,09 и 91,41 мВ·дек⁻¹ соответственно. Кроме того, катализатор характеризовался низким сопротивлением переносу заряда и увеличенной электрохимически активной площадью поверхности. Испытания на стабильность при плотности тока 100 мА·см⁻² в течение 24 часов подтвердили его высокую долговечность. Полученные результаты демонстрируют перспективность предложенного подхода для создания магниточувствительных бездрагоценных электрокатализаторов, предназначенных для эффективного щелочного электролиза воды.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.