Tailoring the electrochemical hydrogen evolution activity of Cu3P through oxophilic surface modification

• Published in: Electrochemistry communications 2020-04, Vol.113, p.106691, Article 106691
• Main Authors: Vineesh, Thaze Veetil, Yarmiayev, Valeria, Zitoun, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1388-2481
• DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2020.106691

[Display omitted] •The surface oxophilicity of Cu3P is tuned by a simple electrochemical oxidation.•Hydrogen evolution with 160 mV overvoltage at 10 mAcm−2 in alkaline medium.•A net gain of 90 mV was obtained at a current density of 10 mAcm−2.•Cu3P displays a stable activity in alkaline medium over 24 hours. The hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium can be promoted by the modification of platinum group metal with oxophilic metals. Herein, an earth abundant metal was first converted to copper phosphide Cu3P and the latter was electrochemically activated by a short and simple procedure to yield an oxidized electroactive surface. Compared with the pristine Cu3P catalyst, the electrochemical activated Cu3P catalyst exhibits an HER overpotential of 155 mV at 10 mA/cm2 (90 mV decrease from Cu3P catalyst) in alkaline medium with a stability over 24 h). XRD, XPS and EDS reveal that the oxidation occurs only on the surface of Cu3P which shows the presence of both copper phosphide and oxide species.