Facile self-template fabrication of hierarchical nickel-cobalt phosphide hollow nanoflowers with enhanced hydrogen generation performance

Xupo Liu; Shaofeng Deng; Peifang Liu; Jianing Liang; Mingxing Gong; Chenglong Lai; Yun Lu; Tonghui Zhao; Deli Wang

doi:10.1016/j.scib.2019.09.014

Facile self-template fabrication of hierarchical nickel-cobalt phosphide hollow nanoflowers with enhanced hydrogen generation performance

Sci Bull (Beijing). 2019 Nov 30;64(22):1675-1684. doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2019.09.014. Epub 2019 Sep 13.

Authors

Xupo Liu¹, Shaofeng Deng¹, Peifang Liu², Jianing Liang¹, Mingxing Gong¹, Chenglong Lai¹, Yun Lu¹, Tonghui Zhao¹, Deli Wang³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
² Analysis & Testing Center of Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China. Electronic address: wangdl81125@hust.edu.cn.

PMID: 36659781
DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2019.09.014

Abstract

Developing facile methods to construct hierarchical-structured transition metal phosphides is beneficial for achieving high-efficiency hydrogen evolution catalysts. Herein, a self-template strategy of hydrothermal treatment of solid Ni-Co glycerate nanospheres followed by phosphorization is delivered to synthesize hierarchical NiCoP hollow nanoflowers with ultrathin nanosheet assembly. The microstructure of NiCoP can be availably tailored by adjusting the hydrothermal treatment temperature through affecting the hydrolysis process of Ni-Co glycerate nanospheres and the occurred Kirkendall effect. Benefitting from the promoted exposure of active sites and affluent mass diffusion routes, the HER performance of the NiCoP hollow nanoflowers has been obviously enhanced in contrast with the solid NiCoP nanospheres. The fabricated NiCoP hollow nanoflowers yield the current density of 10 mA cm^-2 at small overpotentials of 95 and 127 mV in 0.5 mol L^-1 H₂SO₄ and 1.0 mol L^-1 KOH solution, respectively. Moreover, the two-electrode alkaline cell assembled with the NiCoP and Ir/C catalysts exhibits sustainable stability for overall water splitting. The work provides a simple but efficient method to regulate the microstructure of transition metal phosphides, which is helpful for achieving high-performance hydrogen evolution catalysts based on solid-state metal alkoxides.

Keywords: Hydrogen evolution reaction; Hydrolysis of glycerate nanospheres; Kirkendall effect; NiCoP hollow nanoflowers; Self-template method.