Shape-controlled synthesis of thorn-like 1D phosphorized Co supported by Ni foam electrocatalysts for overall water splitting

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics Vol. 32; no. 13; pp. 18363 - 18370
• Main Authors: Khiarak, Behnam Nourmohammadi, Zahraei, Ayda Asaadi, nazarzade, Kosar, Hasanjani, Hamid Reza Akbari, Mohammadzadeh, Hurieh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.07.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Charge efficiency; Charge transfer; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cobalt; Electrocatalysts; Electrodes; Engineering; Ethanol; Gas flow; Hydrogen; Hydrogen evolution reactions; Irregular particles; Materials Science; Metal foams; Metallurgy; Nickel; Optical and Electronic Materials; Oxygen evolution reactions; Phosphating (coating); Renewable resources; Water splitting
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-021-06379-3

A cost-effective, durable, and easy-to-produce improvement in bifunctional electrocatalysts for water splitting is crucial for future renewable energy systems. In this present study, shape-controlled one-dimensional (1D) phosphorized cobalt (CoP) on 3D porous nickel foam (NiF) was synthesized through successive treatment of commercial NiF with acetone and ethanol, followed by hydrothermal growth of Co and final process of phosphorization by thermochemical reactions. The evaluations of products proved reduced overpotential (270 mV at 10 mA. cm −2 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process and a low overpotential of 320 mV to reach a high current density of 20 mA. cm −2 ), low Tafel slope (97.7 mV. dec −1 toward HER process) and fast kinetics of HER and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) (which are shown with the turn over frequency (TOF) evaluations; high TOF of 0.5 and 0.7 mol O 2 per s at the overpotential of 400 mV was obtained for both HER and OER, respectively) when compared with Co-based irregular particles on 3D-NiF. It was found that the improved electrocatalytic performance of 1D-CoP/3D-NiF for hydrogen and oxygen evolutions was achieved follow-on from more active sites and higher charge-transfer efficiency of the product.