Beyond Platinum: Defects Abundant CoP3/Ni2P Heterostructure for Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalysis. Issue 4 (6th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Lijie; Zhuang, Linzhou; Liu, Hongli; Zhang, Longzhou; Cai, Rongsheng; Chen, Ning; Yang, Xianfeng; Zhu, Zhonghua; Yang, Dongjiang; Yao, Xiangdong
• Is Part Of: Small science. Volume 1:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-03-06
• Subjects: heterostructures -- hydrogen evolution reaction -- interfacial defects -- O-refilling -- P-vacancy -- water splitting; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smsc.202000027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2688-4046

Abstract

Abstract : Water electrolysis is a promising option for pure hydrogen production, but it is limited by the high cost. Developing superb and low‐cost electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is critical for cost reduction. Heterostructures are demonstrated with excellent HER activities, but still inferior to commercial Pt/C. Herein, vacancy type of defects is engineered into the interface of CoP3 /Ni2 P heterostructure by a plasma strategy. The as‐synthesized defective CoP3 /Ni2 P exhibits lower overpotentials than Pt/C. Its specific activity at overpotential of 50 mV is ≈2‐fold and 1.7‐fold higher than that of Pt/C in acidic and alkaline media, respectively. For water electrocatalysis, its current density reaches 215 mA cm −2 at 2.0 V, even satisfying the target of practical industrial water splitting. Theoretical calculations indicate that the interfacial defects reconstruct the electronic structure and accelerate the charge transfer, facilitating the adsorption of reactant and lowering the energy barrier of water dissociation, thereby improving HER activities. Abstract : Defective CoP3 /Ni2 P heterostructures exhibit ultralow η 10 of 21 and 37 mV in acidic and alkaline conditions, respectively, outperforming those of Pt/C. More importantly, defective CoP3 /Ni2 P can satisfy the requirements of practical industrial water splitting, outperforming almost all the reported catalysts. Theoretical calculation verifies the critical role of interfacial defects on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of CoP3 /Ni2 P.