Facile synthesis of hierarchical NiCoP nanosheets/NiCoP nanocubes homojunction electrocatalyst for highly efficient and stable hydrogen evolution reaction

Designing and synthesizing stable, low-cost, and eco-friendly precious-metal-free electrocatalysts with high performance for hydrogen evolution is a critical and challenging task in the research and development of renewable hydrogen energy. Herein, we show an interfacial engineering strategy to synthesize the NiCoP nanosheets/NiCoP nanocubes homojunction electrocatalyst supported on Ni foam (2D/3D-NiCoP/NF). The assynthesized 2D/3D-NiCoP/NF catalyst shows impressive HER activity, and a current density of 10 mA cm-2 can be achieved with only an overpotential of 37 mV in 1 M KOH solution. Such impressive HER performance of this 2D/3D-NiCoP/NF homojunction electrocatalyst is principally due to the exposure of abundance accessible active sites originated from the hierarchical structure of nanocubes on the nanosheets. Moreover, the intimate contact between 2D/3D-NiCoP and NF can simultaneously shorten the electron transport pathway and improve its stability. This novel 2D/3D-NiCoP/NF homojunction is expected to provide a powerful interface-engineering reference for the design and construction of high-efficiency synergistic HER electrocatalysts.

Automated summary

The researchers successfully synthesized a NiCoP nanosheets/NiCoP nanocubes homojunction electrocatalyst with excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance through interface engineering strategy. The impressive performance of the catalyst is mainly attributed to the abundance of active sites from nanocubes and the intimate contact with Ni foam, providing a powerful support for efficient HER.