Interface engineering of Ni2P/MoOx decorated NiFeP nanosheets for enhanced alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction at high current densities

Yuanzhi Luo; Sisi Wu; Pan Wang; Hariprasad Ranganathan; Zhicong Shi

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2023.05.163

Interface engineering of Ni₂P/MoO_x decorated NiFeP nanosheets for enhanced alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction at high current densities

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2023 Oct 15:648:551-557. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.05.163. Epub 2023 May 30.

Authors

Yuanzhi Luo¹, Sisi Wu¹, Pan Wang², Hariprasad Ranganathan³, Zhicong Shi⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Batteries, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
² Institute of Batteries, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, PR China. Electronic address: pan.wang@uestc.edu.cn.
³ Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), ́Energie Mat́eriaux T́eĺecommunications Research Centre, Varennes, Qúebec J3X 1P7, Canada.
⁴ Institute of Batteries, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China. Electronic address: zhicong@gdut.edu.cn.

PMID: 37307611
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.05.163

Abstract

The rational design of high-performance non-noble metal electrocatalysts at large current densities is important for the development of sustainable energy conversion devices such as alkaline water electrolyzers. However, improving the intrinsic activity of those non-noble metal electrocatalysts remains a great challenge. Therefore, Ni₂P/MoO_x decorated three-dimensional (3D) NiFeP nanosheets (NiFeP@Ni₂P/MoO_x) with abundant interfaces were synthesized using facile hydrothermal and phosphorization methods. NiFeP@Ni₂P/MoO_x exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at a high current density of -1000 mA cm^-2 with a low overpotential of 390 mV. Surprisingly, it can operate steadily at a large current density of -500 mA cm^-2 for 300 h, indicating its long-term durability under high current densities. The boosted electrocatalytic activity and stability can be ascribed to the as-fabricated heterostructures via interface engineering, leading to modifying the electronic structure, improving the active area, and enhancing the stability. Besides, the 3D nanostructure is also beneficial for exposing abundant accessible active sites. Therefore, this research proposes a considerable route for fabricating non-noble metal electrocatalysts by interface engineering and 3D nanostructure applied in large-scale hydrogen production facilities.

Keywords: High current densities; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Interface engineering; NiFeP.