Mild electrochemical synthesis of metal phosphides with dibenzo-7-phosphanorbornadiene derivatives: mechanistic insights and application to proton reduction in water

Abstract

Transition metal phosphide films were synthesized using a mild electrochemical method. Dibenzo-7-phosphanorbornadiene derivatives (XPA) are introduced as versatile precursors to amorphous metal phosphide electrocatalysts for proton reduction in acidic water. Homogeneous model reactions reveal distinct reactivity between XPA and nickel in different oxidation states, with Ni(0) resulting in Ni_xP_y formation.