Facile fabrication of a binary NiCo phosphide with hierarchical architecture for efficient hydrogen evolution reactions

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2019-02, Vol.44 (8), p.4188-4196
• Main Authors: Ma, Shijie, Wang, Lina, Zhang, Songge, Jin, Haonan, Wan, Meng, Pan, Yi, Zhang, Ting, Wen, Yankun, Zhang, Ming, Zhu, Han, Du, Mingliang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Binary NiCo phosphide; Electrocatalyst; HER; Hierarchical architecture
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.12.133

Exploring and designing efficient non-noble catalysts formed by element doping and nanostructure modification for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of critical importance with respect to sustainable resources. Herein, we have prepared a three-dimensional binary NiCo phosphide with hierarchical architecture (HA) composed of NiCoP nanosheets and nanowires grown on carbon cloth (CC) via a facile hydrothermal method followed by oxidation and phosphorization. Due to its unique hierarchical nanostructure, the NiCoP HA/CC electrocatalyst exhibits excellent performance and good working stability for the HER in both acidic and alkaline conditions. The obtained NiCoP HA/CC shows excellent HER activity with a low potential of 74 and 89 mV at 10 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 77.2 and 99.8 mV dec−1 and long-term stability up to 24 h in acidic and alkaline electrolyte, respectively. NiCoP HA/CC, a non-noble metal material, is a promising electrocatalyst to replace noble metal-based electrocatalysts for the HER. •A three-dimensional binary NiCo phosphide with hierarchical architecture grown on carbon cloth via a facile method.•The as-prepared NiCo phosphide exhibits excellent HER activity due to the unique hierarchical architecture.•The NiCoP HA/CC affords excellent HER activity with low potential of 74 and 89 mV in acidic and alkaline media, respectively.