Mo doped Ni2P nanowire arrays: an efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction with enhanced activity at all pH values

Abstract

We report the successful synthesis of Mo doped Ni₂P nanowires (NWs) on a Ni foam (NF) substrate by a two-step strategy, which could be used as an efficient and stable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalyst over the whole pH range (0–14). Electrochemical investigations demonstrated that Mo doping made the catalytic activity of Ni₂P significantly enhanced. To achieve a current density of 10 mA cm⁻², Mo–Ni₂P NWs/NF required an overpotential of 67 mV in acidic solution, 78 mV in alkaline solution and 84 mV in neutral solution. It also showed superior stability with negligible activity decay after its use in the HER under different pH conditions for 24 h. Such excellent HER activity might originate from the synergistic effect between molybdenum (Mo) and nickel (Ni) atoms. The present work provides a valuable route for the design and synthesis of inexpensive and efficient all-pH HER electrocatalysts.