Issue 25, 2020

Plasma-assisted nitrogen doping in Ni–Co–P hollow nanocubes for efficient hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis

Abstract

To surmount the issues of a limited specific surface area and slow electrolyte diffusion in composite electrocatalysts, three-dimensional (3D) porous hollow nanocubes are fabricated, in which bimetal Ni–Co phosphide composites are covered with nanoparticles. The abundant hollow space provides more active sites for the catalyst, and simultaneously ensures efficient mass transfer and electron transport during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). A plasma-assisted approach is employed for smart N-doping in the Ni–Co phosphide hollow nanocubes (N–Ni–Co–P HNCs). The N–Ni–Co–P HNC catalyst exhibits a remarkable HER performance in 1 M KOH, evidenced by the low overpotentials of 47.9 mV and 150.5 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2 and 50 mA cm−2, respectively, as well as the excellent long-time stability. Essentially, the N doping tailors the electronic states and optimizes the free energy of hydrogen adsorption (ΔGH*) greatly, and the 3D porous hollow structure with porous nanoparticles stacked enlarges the specific active area substantially. Their synergistic effects result in the remarkably enhanced catalytic activity for the HER.

Graphical abstract: Plasma-assisted nitrogen doping in Ni–Co–P hollow nanocubes for efficient hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
02 Mar 2020
Accepted
26 May 2020
First published
26 May 2020

Nanoscale, 2020,12, 13708-13718

Plasma-assisted nitrogen doping in Ni–Co–P hollow nanocubes for efficient hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis

Q. Luo, Y. Zhao, Y. Qi, H. Xin, C. Wang, G. Chen, J. Sun, M. Liu, K. Xu and F. Ma, Nanoscale, 2020, 12, 13708 DOI: 10.1039/D0NR01783C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements