Multi-interface collaboration of graphene cross-linked NiS-NiS2-Ni3S4 polymorph foam towards robust hydrogen evolution in alkaline electrolyte

Electrocatalytic hydrogen production in alkaline media is extensively adopted in industry. Unfortunately, further performance improvement is severely impeded by the retarded kinetics, which requires the fine regulation of water dissociation, hydrogen recombination, and hydroxyl desorption. Herein, we develop a multi-interface engineering strategy to make an elaborate balance for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics. The graphene cross-linked three-phase nickel sulfide (NiS-NiS2-Ni3S4) polymorph foam (G-NNNF) was constructed through hydrothermal sulfidation of graphene wrapped nickel foam as a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold template. The G-NNNF exhibits superior catalytic activity toward HER in alkaline electrolyte, which only requires an overpotential of 68 mV to drive 10 mA.cm(-2) and is better than most of the recently reported metal sulfides catalysts. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations verify the interfaces between nickel sulfides (NiS/NiS2/Ni3S4) and cross-linked graphene can endow the electrocatalyst with preferable hydrogen adsorption as well as metallic nature. In addition, the electron transfer from Ni3S4/NiS2 to NiS results in the electron accumulation on NiS and the hole accumulation on Ni3S4/NiS2, respectively. The electron accumulation on NiS favors the optimization of the H* adsorption, whereas the hole accumulation on Ni3S4 is beneficial for the adsorption of H2O. The work about multi-interface collaboration pushes forward the frontier of excellent polymorph catalysts design.

Automated summary

This study presents a multi-interface engineering strategy to achieve a delicate balance in the kinetics of alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The graphene cross-linked three-phase nickel sulfide foam exhibits superior catalytic activity in alkaline electrolyte and is better than most of the recently reported metal sulfides catalysts. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm the favorable hydrogen adsorption and metallic nature of the electrocatalyst due to the interfaces between nickel sulfides and cross-linked graphene.