The manufacture of efficient and low-cost hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts is regarded as a critical solution to achieve carbon neutrality. Herein, we developed an economical method to synthesize a CoP-anchored N-doped carbon catalyst via one-step pyrolysis using inexpensive starting materials (cobalt ion salt, phytic acid, and glycine). The size of the CoP nanoparticles was controlled by adjusting the Co/P ratio of the catalysts. Nanoscale CoP particles with adequate exposure to active sites were uniformly anchored on the surface of the conductive nitrogen-doped carbon substrate, ensuring the rapid transfer of electrons and species. When Co/P=0.89, the as-made catalyst exhibited outstanding HER activity, with an extraordinarily low overpotential of 202 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and long-term stability.
Keywords: Carbon materials; Electrocatalysts; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Transition metal catalyst.
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