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Electrodeposition, formation mechanism, and electrocatalytic performance of Co-Ni-P ternary catalysts coated on carbon fiber paper

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Abstract

Transition metal–based catalysts are considered to be promising materials to replace noble metal catalysts for electrocatalytic water splitting. Herein, a flexible electrode composed of Co-Ni-P ternary catalysts and carbon fiber paper substrate (Co-Ni-P/CFP) was successfully fabricated and applied in water electrolysis. The Co-Ni-P coatings were deposited on CFP by a one-step cyclic voltammetric electrodeposition method and the surface of the composite material exhibits nano-reticular structure. The formation mechanism was also discussed according to the results of material characterization. Notably, the Co-Ni-P/CFP flexible electrode exhibited superior catalytic performance for both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions in alkaline media, which could achieve 10 mA/cm2 current density with overpotential of 89 mV for HER and 320 mV for OER. Moreover, the Co-Ni-P/CFP electrode could also be used as both anode and cathode electrode to drive overall water splitting and required only 1.64 V to achieve a current density of 10 mA/cm2, which was very close to that of the commercial combination of Pt/C and IrO2. This affordable and easily obtained electrode offers a new avenue to develop earth-abundant resource catalysts for water electrolysis system.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21501152), the Key Program of Henan Province for Science and Technology (Grant No. 172102210067), and the Doctoral Research Foundation of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (Grant No. 2014BSJJ057).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Surface and Interface Science and Technology, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, 450002, People’s Republic of China

    Aiqin Zhang, Yuanhua Xiao, Yang Cao, Hua Fang, Yong Zhang & Huan Zhang

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal, Bhopal, 462066, India

    Paramita Das

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  1. Aiqin Zhang
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  2. Yuanhua Xiao
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  3. Yang Cao
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Correspondence to Aiqin Zhang.

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Zhang, A., Xiao, Y., Cao, Y. et al. Electrodeposition, formation mechanism, and electrocatalytic performance of Co-Ni-P ternary catalysts coated on carbon fiber paper. J Solid State Electrochem 25, 1503–1512 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-021-04929-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-021-04929-7

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