Low-temperature access to active iron and iron/nickel nitrides as potential electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction

DeLaney, Christopher Ryan; Diaz-Abad, Sergio; O'Leary, Shamus Loren; Gonzàlez-Rosell, Anna; Martinez, Ulises; Maurya, Sandip; Ivanov, Sergei A.; Watt, John

doi:10.1039/D5TA06347G

Title: Low-temperature access to active iron and iron/nickel nitrides as potential electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction

Journal Article · Tue Oct 21 00:00:00 UTC 2025 · Journal of Materials Chemistry. A

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TA06347G · OSTI ID:2999955

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^[2]; O'Leary, Shamus Loren ^[1];

^[1]; Martinez, Ulises ^[2];

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Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Low-temperature, scalable routes to transition metal nitride (TMN) nanoparticles are desirable for a wide range of applications, yet their synthesis typically requires high temperatures (>350 °C) and reactive gas environments (e.g., NH₃ or H₂/N₂). Here, we report a colloidal synthesis of mono- and bimetallic TMN nanoparticles using preformed metal carbonyl clusters as precursors and urea or diethylenetriamine (DETA) as nitrogen sources. This strategy enables access to size-controlled, phase-pure ε-Fe₃N_x and Fe_yNi_3−yN nanoparticles at temperatures below 300 °C, without the need for flowing reactive gas atmospheres. By systematically varying nitrogen precursor, reaction temperature, and cluster identity, we achieve tunable nitrogen stoichiometry (x) and phase selectivity between N-rich and N-poor TMNs. Structural and magnetic characterization confirms clean decomposition of the precursors and phase formation consistent with controlled nitridation at the nanoscale. Preliminary electrochemical measurements in alkaline media demonstrate that these materials exhibit oxygen evolution reaction (OER) overpotentials comparable to RuO₂, highlighting their viability for future electrocatalytic applications.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 2999955

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--25-25458; 10.1039/D5TA06347G; 2050-7496

Journal Information:: Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Chemistry. A Journal Issue: 46 Vol. 13; ISSN 2050-7488; ISSN 2050-7496

Publisher:: Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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