CoP nanowires coupled with CoMoP nanosheets as a highly efficient cooperative catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

• Published in: Nano energy Vol. 68; p. 104332
• Main Authors: Huang, Xingkai, Xu, Xiaopei, Luan, Xiaoxu, Cheng, Daojian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2020
• Subjects: CoMoP; CoP; Defect; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Interface; CoMoP; Defect; Hydrogen evolution reaction; CoP; Interface
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104332

The rational design and construction of efficient electrocatalysts play a leading role for water splitting, but very rarely Pt-like activity has been obtained by non-noble metal catalysts. It is obvious that the cooperative coupling of non-noble metal catalysts could be regarded as a preferred alternative to Pt-based materials in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, a heterostructure electrocatalyst on Ni foam with CoP nanowires coupled with the defective CoMoP nanosheets (CoP/CoMoP) is first synthesized via hydrothermal method followed by low-temperature phosphidation. Results indicate that CoP/CoMoP shows extraordinarily efficient HER activity and robust stability, especially, high activity superior to that of commercial Pt/C in alkaline electrolyte, due to the cooperative effect of interfaces between CoP and CoMoP. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations certified that the interface between the CoP and CoMoP can improve the activity of HER, especially in alkaline condition, by facilitating the H2O-dissociation on the CoMoP and H-adsorption on the CoP. Moreover, the CoMoP with P defects can enhance the activity of HER by preventing the active sites of CoMoP and CoP from the blocking of OH*. It is expected that such heterostructure CoP/CoMoP could provide a powerful interface-engineering strategy to design and construct efficient cooperative electrocatalysts for HER. The heterostructure CoP/CoMoP on Ni foam is first synthesized and shows Pt-like performance in alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction due to the interface cooperative effect between the CoP and CoMoP. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations certified that the interface can improve the activity in alkaline condition by facilitating the H2O-dissociation on the CoMoP and H-adsorption on the CoP. Moreover, the CoMoP with P defects can enhance the activity of HER by preventing the active sites of CoMoP and CoP from the blocking of OH*. [Display omitted] •CoP nanowires coupled with the defective CoMoP nanosheets (CoP/CoMoP) are synthesized for the first time.•CoP/CoMoP shows Pt-like HER activity in alkaline condition due to the cooperative effect of interfaces.•CoP/CoMoP can improve the activity of HER by facilitating the H2O-dissociation on the CoMoP and H-adsorption on the CoP.•CoP/CoMoP can also enhance the activity of HER by preventing the active sites of CoMoP and CoP from the blocking of OH*.