Interfacial Electron Transfer of Ni2P–NiP2 Polymorphs Inducing Enhanced Electrochemical Properties

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) 2018-11, Vol.30 (46), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Liu, Tong, Li, Anran, Wang, Chengbo, Zhou, Wei, Liu, Shijie, Guo, Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; asymmetric electrolyzer; Batteries; Catalysis; Catalysts; Charge transfer; Chemical synthesis; Density functional theory; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemical analysis; Electron transfer; Heterojunctions; hydrogen evolution reaction; Hydrogen evolution reactions; Hydrogen storage; interfacial electron transfer; Intermetallic compounds; Iron compounds; Materials science; Nanoparticles; Ni2P–NiP2 polymorph; Nickel compounds; Phosphides; thin‐wall hollow nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201803590

Heterointerface engineering can be used to develop excellent catalysts through electronic coupling effects between different components or phases. As one kind of promising Pt‐free electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), pure‐phased metal phosphide exhibits the unfavorable factor of strong or weak H*‐adsorption performance. Here, 6 nm wall‐thick Ni2P–NiP2 hollow nanoparticle polymorphs combining metallic Ni2P and metalloid NiP2 with observable heterointerfaces are synthesized. It shows excellent catalytic performance toward the HER, requiring an overpotential of 59.7 mV to achieve 10 mA cm−2 with a Tafel slope of 58.8 mV dec−1. Density functional theory calculations verify electrons' transfer from P to Ni at the heterointerfaces, which decreases the absolute value of H* adsorption energy and simultaneously enhance electronic conductivity. That is, the heterojunctions balance the metallic Ni2P and the metalloid NiP2 to form an optimized phosphide polymorph catalyst for the HER. Furthermore, this polymorph combination is used with NiFe‐LDH nanosheets to form an alkaline electrolyzer. It shows highly desirable electrochemical properties, which can reach 10 mA cm−2 in 1 m KOH at 1.48 V and be driven by an AAA battery with a nominal voltage of 1.5 V. The work about interfacial charge transfer might provide an insight into designing excellent polymorph catalysts. 6‐nm‐thin‐wall Ni2P–NiP2 hollow nanoparticles with highly efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity are designed. The electron transfer from P to Ni at the Ni2P–NiP2 interfaces can optimize the ΔGH* value of Ni2P–NiP2. This Ni2P–NiP2 polymorph combined with NiFe‐LDH nanosheets can be used as an alkaline electrolyzer driven by a 1.5 V (AAA) battery.