Flexible molybdenum phosphide nanosheet array electrodes for hydrogen evolution reaction in a wide pH range

Searching for non-noble-metal hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts with high efficiency and excellent durability is a great challenge for the hydrogen-based energy industry. In this paper, a three-dimensional self-supported hydrogen evolution cathode is present, where the MoP nanosheet array was grown on flexible carbon cloth (MoP NA/CC) via a two-step strategy: hydrothermally growing MoS2 nanosheet array on CC (MoS2 NA/CC) in advance, and then phosphidation to chemically convert the MoS2 NA/CC precusor into MoP NA/CC. When used as an integrated three-dimensional electrode for HER, MoP NA/CC shows a quiet low onset overpotential (50 mV vs reversible hydrogen electrode), high current density (j >10 mA cm(-2) at eta = 124 mV), and a small Tafel slope (58 mVdec(-1)), as well as remarkable stability (<9% decay after 46 h electrolysis) in acidic conditions. Interestingly, the flexible MoP NA/CC electrode also offers superior electrocatalytic performance and remarkable durability for HER in both neutral and basic conditions. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.