Strongly Coupled 3D Nanohybrids with Ni2P/Carbon Nanosheets as pH-Universal Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts

A reliable strategy has been developed to prepare Ni2P nanofilms on carbon nanosheets (CNS) nanohybrids (Ni2P/CNS), which involves the preparation of three-dimensional (3D) CNS followed by in situ growth of Ni2P nanofilms on the surface of CNS. The Ni2P/CNS nanohybrids possess a robust 3D hierarchical structure, in which the Ni2P films are solidly overlaid on the surface of the CNS. The Ni2P/CNS nanohybrid was characterized by a variety of techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), etc. A series of electrochemical tests demonstrate the Ni2P/CNS nanohybrid shows high catalytic activity and excellent stability towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in pH-universal electrolyte, that is, in acidic, neutral, and basic media. The outstanding performance for Ni2P/CNS is correlated with the synergic effects between Ni2P and CNS associated with its unique and robust structure.