Biomass‐based transition metal phosphides supported on carbon matrix as efficient and stable electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

An effective and eco-friendly catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) shows significance for new clean energy technologies. The TMPs are generally regarded as efficient electrocatalysts for HER. Unfortunately, the synthetic procedures of TMPs usually suffered from high cost, complexity, and toxicity caused by the use of chemical phosphorus sources. Phosphorus and nitrogen pollution lead to water eutrophication and consequent algae blooms. We use a kind of algae (caused by eutrophication) to develop TMP nanoparticles supported on the porous carbon matrix for HER by a one-step calcination treatment, the preparation method is sustainable, economical, and effective. For the optimal catalyst Co 2 P nanoparticles supported on chlorella-derived porous N-doped carbon matrix (Co 2 P-C-NPC), the HER overpotential is measured to be 151 mV (acid condition) and 252 mV (alkaline condition) at the current density of 10 mA cm À2 . The excellent HER performance results from the uniform dispersity, high content of carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen in the algae, the algae's high surface and porosity. If adverse element-rich biomass can be converted into a useful catalyst material, then the efficient and eco-friendly for water splitting is possible.

Biomass‐Derived Carbon‐Based Multicomponent Integration Catalysts for Electrochemical Water Splitting

“…Among them, chlorella-derived carbon supported Co 2 P nanoparticles (Co 2 PÀ C-NPC) exhibited the best HER activity, and the overpotentials at 10 mA cm À 2 were only 252 and 151 mV under alkaline and acidic condition, respectively. [125]…”

“…exploited an alternative algae caused by eutrophication (Chlorella) as precursor, which contents 4.6 wt % of P. By a one‐step calcination after loading metal, a series of TMPs, Co 2 P, Fe 2 P and Ni 12 P 5 were highly dispersed on porous N‐doped carbon matrix. Among them, chlorella‐derived carbon supported Co 2 P nanoparticles (Co 2 P−C‐NPC) exhibited the best HER activity, and the overpotentials at 10 mA cm −2 were only 252 and 151 mV under alkaline and acidic condition, respectively [125] …”

Controllable adjustment of oxygen contents in activated carbons and oxygen effect on electrochemical performances in supercapacitors

“…On the other hand, the heteroatom contents can also be introduced to the carbon matrix or adjusted by posttreatment, including activation, 20 ultrasonic treatment with nitric acid, 21 (NH 4 ) 2 S 2 O 8 oxidation, 22 microwave treatment, 23 etc. Oxygen, 24,25 nitrogen, [26][27][28] sulfur, 29,30 boron, 31,32 phosphorus, 33 etc. have been successfully doped into ACs, which have increased the capacitance of the heteroatomdoped ACs.…”