Facile synthesis of thin NiFe-layered double hydroxides nanosheets efficient for oxygen evolution

• Ultrathin nanosheets of layered double hydroxides are successfully fabricated.
• The fabricated nanosheets are highly active and stable electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution.
• The electrocatalysts are superior to the commercial RuO2 catalyst in both activity and stability.

Ultrathin NiFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets are facilely and cost-effectively fabricated. The as-prepared NiFe-LDH nanosheets are highly active and stable electrocatalysts for water oxidation in alkaline environment, exhibiting a much higher oxygen evolution activity and lower overpotential with the enhanced stability, much superior to the previously reported LDH-derived catalysts. This work provides a facile methodology for the fabrication of thin nanosheets, which are promising in the renewable energy conversion.