Facile Synthesis of MoP-RuP2 with Abundant Interfaces to Boost Hydrogen Evolution Reactions in Alkaline Media

Abstract

Exploiting efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) is important for boosting the large-scale applications of hydrogen energy. Herein, MoP-RuP2 encapsulated in N,P-codoped carbon (MoP-RuP2@NPC) with abundant interfaces were prepared via a facile avenue with the low-toxic melamine phosphate as the phosphorous resource. Moreover, the obtained electrocatalyst possessed a porous nanostructure, had abundant exposed active sites and improved the mass transport during the electrocatalytic process. Due to the above merits, the prepared MoP-RuP2@NPC delivered a greater electrocatalytic performance for HERs (50 mV@10 mA cm−2) relative to RuP2@NPC (120 mV) and MoP@NPC (195 mV) in 1 M KOH. Moreover, an ultralow potential of 1.6 V was required to deliver a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in the two-electrode configuration for overall water splitting. For practical applications, intermittent solar energy, wind energy and thermal energy were utilized to drive the electrolyzer to generate hydrogen gas. This work provides a novel and facile strategy for designing highly efficient and stable nanomaterials toward hydrogen production.

Defect engineering in transition‐metal (Fe, Co, and Ni)‐based electrocatalysts for water splitting

“…For the localized hybridization strategy, our group designed MoP quantum dots on CoP/Cu 3 P nanowires (MoP/CoP/Cu 3 P), which served as a highefficiency HER electrocatalyst. 163 It needed a low overpotential of 64.6 mV to acquire 10 mA cm −2 with a low Tafel slope value of 68.2 mV dec −1 in 1 M KOH. The experimental results showed that the decoration of MoP quantum dots on the CoP/Cu 3 P nanowires has endowed the electrocatalyst with larger electrochemical surface area and more reactive sites.…”

“…The Co/Co 2 P interface efficiently favored the electron transfer from Co to Co 2 P and resulted in the shift of d‐band center to a higher level. For the localized hybridization strategy, our group designed MoP quantum dots on CoP/Cu 3 P nanowires (MoP/CoP/Cu 3 P), which served as a high‐efficiency HER electrocatalyst 163 . It needed a low overpotential of 64.6 mV to acquire 10 mA cm −2 with a low Tafel slope value of 68.2 mV dec −1 in 1 M KOH.…”

“…What is more, DFT calculations showed that the MoP/CoP interface possessed a more moderate Δ G H* value of −0.08 eV than MoP (0.22 eV) and CoP (0.55 eV). The electrons more favorably transferred from MoP to CoP due to the significant difference in work function, and this strong electronic interaction optimized the electronic structure for the MoP/CoP interface, contributing to better HER catalytic activity 163 . Thus, the localized hybridization strategy was proved to be a feasible way for the enhancement of defective materials' catalytic activity toward water electrolysis.…”