Iron triad (Fe, co, Ni) trinary phosphide nanosheet arrays as high-performance bifunctional electrodes for full water splitting in basic and neutral conditions

Abstract

The development of an efficient and affordable bifunctional electrode for full water splitting in basic and neutral conditions is still a challenging issue in obtaining clean and sustainable chemical fuels. Herein, a unique bifunctional electrode consisting of 3D trinary transition-metal phosphide nanosheets with abundant reactive sites anchored on Ni foam, referred to as Fe_xCo_yNi_zP, has been developed through a facile two-step process of electrodeposition and low-temperature phosphidation. When used as a bifunctional electrode for the full water splitting, an applied voltage of 1.57 V is required for a current density of 10 mA cm⁻².