Induction of Co2P Growth on a MXene (Ti3C2Tx)-Modified Self-Supporting Electrode for Efficient Overall Water Splitting

Zepeng Lv; Wansen Ma; Jie Dang; Meng Wang; Kailiang Jian; Dong Liu; Dejun Huang

doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01345

Induction of Co₂P Growth on a MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x)-Modified Self-Supporting Electrode for Efficient Overall Water Splitting

J Phys Chem Lett. 2021 May 27;12(20):4841-4848. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01345. Epub 2021 May 17.

Authors

Zepeng Lv^{1

2}, Wansen Ma^{1

2}, Jie Dang^{1

2}, Meng Wang^{1

2}, Kailiang Jian^{1

2}, Dong Liu^{1

2}, Dejun Huang³

Affiliations

¹ College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, P.R. China.
² Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vanadium-Titanium Metallurgy and New Materials, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, P.R. China.
³ Spectris Instrumentation and Systems Shanghai, Ltd., Shanghai 200233, P.R. China.

PMID: 33999628
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01345

Abstract

It still is a challenge to create a superior and easily coupled bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting impelled by a low voltage. In this work, the controlled growth of Co₂P NAs on the surface of a MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x)-modified self-supporting electrode is demonstrated as a competent and reliable bifunctional electrocatalyst for efficient water splitting. The heterointerface in Co₂P@Ti₃C₂T_x with an optimized adsorption free energy of H*, H₂O, and better conductivity can give enhanced HER (hydrogen evolution reaction) activity, with a low overpotential (42 mV) at 10 mA cm^-2. Additionally, the OER (oxygen evolution reaction) activity has also been similarly strengthened by the synergy of Co₂P and MXene with an overpotential of 267 mV to arrive at 10 mA cm^-2. Furthermore, the excellent bifunctional electrode (Co₂P@Ti₃C₂T_x∥Co₂P@Ti₃C₂T_x) exhibits efficient engineering water-splitting performance (1.46 V@10 mA cm^-2) in alkaline solution. This simple design can propose a promising approach to exploit precious-metal-free catalysts for energy conversion.