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Fluorine-regulated binary cobalt nickel phosphides nanoarrays on nickel foam for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction

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Abstract

Doping hetero-atoms into non-noble metal phosphides, which is a better strategy for enhancement of electrocatalytic activity due to regulation of the electronic structure of catalysts. Herein, the F-doped CoP/Ni2P nanoarrays grown on nickel foam (NF) was fabricated by facile method as a self-supported electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and this nanowires structure provide large specific surface area and more active sites. Additionally, the synergy effect between CoP and Ni2P can accelerate the electron transfer rate and increase the reaction rate. Moreover, the addition of strongly electronegative fluorine (F) can cause significant changes in electronic structure and enhance electrocatalytic HER performance. Therefore, the fabricated F-CoP/Ni2P/NF catalyst exhibits excellent HER activity in both alkaline and acidic electrolyte with a lower overpotential of 99 mV and 106 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and good durability. Hence, this work provides a simple method for exploring heteroatoms-regulated non-precious metal catalysts, which can be used to develop more efficient HER catalysts for water splitting.

Graphical abstract

The self-supported fluorine-doped CoP/Ni2P nanowire array was prepared as efficient and stable electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction in both alkaline and acidic media.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52063026 and 51872245), the Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province of China (20JR10RA087) and the Scientific Research Ability Promotion Program of Young Teachers of Northwest Normal University (NWNU-LKQN-18-18).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Eco-Functional Polymer Materials of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Polymer Materials of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, People’s Republic of China

    Yaoxia Yang, Mi Kang, Xingwei Guo, Xuqin An, Fengyao Guo, Lan Zhang, Dangxia Wang, Dongfei Sun, Xiaozhong Zhou & Zhiwang Yang

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  1. Yaoxia Yang
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  2. Mi Kang
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Correspondence to Yaoxia Yang.

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Yang, Y., Kang, M., Guo, X. et al. Fluorine-regulated binary cobalt nickel phosphides nanoarrays on nickel foam for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction. J Mater Sci 58, 6407–6418 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-023-08423-5

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