Ultra-stable trimetallic phosphide heterostructure with regulated electronic structure for overall water splitting at high current densities

Wang, Daorui; Luo, Xinruo; Shang, Yuxiang; Wang, Yuanyuan; Zhang, Haonan; Wang, Shuo; Cui, Chenmeng; Lee, Sungsik; Hao, Shijie; Yang, Ying

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2024.234986

DOE OSTI · 2566051

Ultra-stable trimetallic phosphide heterostructure with regulated electronic structure for overall water splitting at high current densities

Wang, Daorui·Luo, Xinruo·Shang, Yuxiang·Wang, Yuanyuan·Zhang, Haonan·Wang, Shuo·Cui, Chenmeng·Lee, Sungsik·Hao, Shijie·Yang, Ying

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Abstract

Developing ultra-stable electrocatalysts for highly efficient overall water splitting at high current density (HCD) is critical for renewable hydrogen/oxygen production in the industry. However, the most active electrocatalysts for large current-driven water splitting are seriously handicapped by insufficient electrical contact kinetics due to the intensive bubble overflow. Herein, we demonstrate the ultra-stable trimetallic phosphides of NiFeP/NiCoP catalysts on a hydrophilic Ni foam skeleton via a corrosion-hydrothermal-phosphating strategy. The optimized NiFeP/NiCoP catalyst stabilizes for 600 h at -1 A cm -2 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solution, and it only needs low overpotentials of 237 and 314 mV to drive HER and OER at 1 A cm -2 , respectively. As expected, the optimized NiFeP/NiCoP electrode maintains 1000 h at 0.5 A cm -2 for water splitting, ranking among the top performers among reported catalysts. Such excellent performance could be attributed to the fast electron transfer for electrochemical reactions, the electron-deficient Fe/Ni sites contribute to forming robust metal oxyhydroxide during OER, and electron-rich Co sites facilitate H adsorption during HER. In conclusion, the findings present a highly promising candidate for ultra-stable non-noble metal electrocatalysts, offering a viable option for hydrogen/oxygen supply for fuel cells and metal-air batteries.

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Electronic structure High current density Stability Trimetallic phosphides Water splitting

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Wang, Daorui, Luo, Xinruo, Shang, Yuxiang, Wang, Yuanyuan, Zhang, Haonan, Wang, Shuo, Cui, Chenmeng, Lee, Sungsik, Hao, Shijie, Yang, Ying. 2024-06-29. Ultra-stable trimetallic phosphide heterostructure with regulated electronic structure for overall water splitting at high current densities. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2024.234986

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