Functionalized Phosphorene Quantum Dots as Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

• Published in: ACS nano 2018-11, Vol.12 (11), p.11511-11519
• Main Authors: Prasannachandran, Ranjith, Vineesh, Thazhe Veettil, Anil, Athira, Krishna, B. Murali, Shaijumon, Manikoth M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1936-0851; 1936-086X
• DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b06671

Phosphorene has attracted great interest in the rapidly emerging field of two-dimensional layered nanomaterials. Recent studies show promising electrocatalytic activity of few-layered phosphorene sheets toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, controllable synthesis of mono/few-layered phosphorene nanostructures with a large number of electrocatalytically active sites and exposed surface area is important to achieve significant enhancement in OER activity. Here, a novel strategy for controlled synthesis and in situ surface functionalization of phosphorene quantum dots (PQDs) using a single-step electrochemical exfoliation process is demonstrated. Phosphorene quantum dots functionalized with nitrogen-containing groups (FPQDs) exhibit efficient and stable electrocatalytic activity for OER with an overpotential of 1.66 V @ 10 mA cm–2, a low Tafel slope of 48 mV dec–1, and excellent stability. Further, we observe enhanced electron transfer kinetics for FPQDs toward the Fe2+/Fe3+ redox probe in comparison with pristine PQDs. The results demonstrate the promising potential of phosphorene as technologically viable OER electrodes for water-splitting devices.