Issue 17, 2018

Ultrathin NiCo2Px nanosheets strongly coupled with CNTs as efficient and robust electrocatalysts for overall water splitting

Abstract

Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier that becomes an alternative to fossil fuels due to its recyclability and pollution-free nature. Water splitting is an effective method for high purity hydrogen production; however, it requires efficient, low-cost and durable catalysts. Herein, a facile method to synthesize self-assembled 3D laminar NiCo2Px anchored on functionalized carbon nanotubes (NiCo2Px/CNTs) is developed for achieving cost-efficient, highly-active, and robust electrocatalysts towards overall water splitting in 1 M KOH. Notably, the overpotentials at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 are as low as 47 and 284 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. The water electrolyzer device using NiCo2Px/CNTs as both the cathode and anode only requires a cell voltage of 1.61 V to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2 along with outstanding durability for at least 48 h. Furthermore, the catalytic mechanism was discussed with a special emphasis on the synergetic effect of Ni and Co and real OER active species. Our work not only establishes a promising electrocatalyst, but also provides a general strategy to enhance the activity and stability of metal phosphides.

Graphical abstract: Ultrathin NiCo2Px nanosheets strongly coupled with CNTs as efficient and robust electrocatalysts for overall water splitting

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
29 Dec 2017
Accepted
07 Mar 2018
First published
09 Mar 2018

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018,6, 7420-7427

Ultrathin NiCo2Px nanosheets strongly coupled with CNTs as efficient and robust electrocatalysts for overall water splitting

C. Huang, T. Ouyang, Y. Zou, N. Li and Z. Liu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018, 6, 7420 DOI: 10.1039/C7TA11364A

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