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.