The voltammetric behaviors of Co(II), H 2 PO 2 − , and their mixtures in four molar ratios were studied in the hydrophilic roomtemperature ionic liquid (RTIL) 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium dicyanamide ([BMP][DCA]). Co(II) was introduced into the RTIL via Co-metal anodization or the addition of CoSO 4 , respectively, while NaH 2 PO 2 was used as the H 2 PO 2 − source. A single redox couple of Co(II)/Co was observed in the RTIL containing Co(II). Although elemental phosphorus (P) cannot be directly electrodeposited from NaH 2 PO 2 , CoP was successfully obtained via potentiostatic electrodeposition from [BMP][DCA] containing both CoSO 4 and NaH 2 PO 2 . The obtained Co and CoP electrodeposits were both characterized to study the effects of electrodeposition potential on their surface morphology, elemental composition, crystallinity, and electrocatalytic activity. The as-deposited Co and CoP both showed amorphous features in X-ray diffraction analysis, and crystalline diffraction signals were observed after they were annealed at 623 K for 2 hours. The crystalline structures of the as-deposited CoP, however, were observed using high-resolution TEM, indicating a nanometer-domain crystal size. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was studied at the Pt electrode, Co-, and CoP-coated copper electrodes, of which the Co ∼70 P 30∼ electrode showed the best electrocatalytic activity toward OER. Electrodeposition is a very important and diversified technique for preparing a variety of materials, including various metals, alloys, and compounds (metal-nonmetal or nonmetal-nonmetal). Compared with other approaches, electrodeposition is usually simpler, and more economical, efficient, and appropriate for the preparation of materials in large-scale and/or large-area. According to these advantages, electrocatalysts, including cobalt phosphide (CoP), have recently and extensively been prepared via electrodeposition.CoP has been traditionally prepared as magnetic materials via electrodeposition.1-4 However, CoP has recently been recognized as a very important low-cost, efficient, and bifunctional electrocatalyst because it contains relatively abundant elements without noble metals, and can be simultaneously used as the cathode and anode in electrochemical water-splitting cells. CoP has thus become increasingly studied for use in both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), in both acidic and basic solutions. Various approaches have also been developed for the preparation of CoP. Although it has been recently reported that CoP can be formed chemically via phosphidation of a cubic Co precursor,5 electrodeposition is perhaps the ideal approach for the preparation of electrocatalysts due to their straightforward formation on the conductive substrates, which can then be directly used as the electrodes for electrocatalytic reactions. Moreover, no additional and complex processes for catalysts immobilization are needed. Electrodeposition of CoP via a single or multiple step(s) has thus been broadly studied...