Electroless plating-induced morphology self-assembly of free-standing Co–P–B enabling efficient overall water splitting. (10th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hao, Weiju; Huang, Hao; Chen, Ziliang; Wang, Lincai; Ma, Xiaohua; Huang, Mingxian; Ou, Xin; Guo, Yanhui
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 354(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09-10
• Subjects: Bifunctional electrocatalysts -- Structure modulation -- Hydrogen evolution -- Oxygen evolution -- Overall water splitting; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2020.136645
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Abstract: Precisely controlling the morphology of electrocatalyst which is critical to its activity and stability remains a key challenge toward efficient overall water splitting. Herein, a distinct temperature-dependent structure modulation effect of electroless plating technique is reported and consequently several bifunctional electrocatalysts with various structures are developed. The optimized bifunctional electrode with cobalt-phosphorus-boron nanoflowers growing on the carbon cloth demands overpotentials of only 91 mV and 294 mV to achieve a current density of 50 mA cm −2 for the hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction in 1.0 M potassium hydroxide at 25 °C. Moreover, an overall water-splitting device assembled by this electrode can also work at high temperature of 60 °C with excellent long term durability and achieve a current density of 20 mA cm −2 at a cell voltage of around 1.39 V. This work uncovers some structure design principles of highly active electrocatalyst and provides a versatile strategy for structure modulation of the electrocatalyst for pratctical water electrolysis. Graphical abstract: Construction of practical bifunctional electrodes for overall water splitting has been facilitated by a distinct temperature-dependent structure modulation effect of electroless plating technique. A remarkable Co–P–B/carbon cloth electrode with nano flower structure achieved a current density of 20 mA cm −2 at a cell voltage of around 1.39 V at 60 °C with excellent long term durability. Image 1 Highlights: Co-P-B bifunctional electrode affords 20 mA cm -2 at a cell voltage of only 1.386 V at 60 °C, reaching a record-level. A temperature-dependent structural modulation by electroless plating technique has been developed. Several fundamental principles have been uncovered for designing highly active electrocatalysts.