Tuning the Electronic Structure of the CoP/NiP Nanostructure by Nitrogen Doping for an Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media.

As one of the most sustainable, efficient, and cleanest ways for hydrogen production, electrochemical water splitting relies heavily on cost-efficient and stable electrocatalysts. Herein, a self-supported and nitrogen-doped hybrid CoP/NiP was synthesized through a simple two-step hydrothermal process followed by low-temperature phosphorization and nitridation (N-CoP/NiP@NF). Both experimental and density functional theory calculation results suggest that nitrogen doping can tune the electrical structure of the CoP/NiP heterostructure and thus optimize the free energy of adsorbed H on the surface of N-CoP/NiP@NF and accelerate the electronic transport activity.

Nitrogen-Doped MoS/TiCT Heterostructures as Ultra-Efficient Alkaline HER Electrocatalysts.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS) is intrinsically inert for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media due to its electronic structures. Herein, we tune the electronic structures of MoS by a combined strategy of post-N doping coupled with the synergistic effect of TiCT. The as-prepared N-doped MoS/TiCT heterostructures show remarkable alkaline HER activity with an overpotential of 225 mV at 140 mA cm, which ranks the N-doped MoS/TiCT heterostructures among the best MoS/MXene-based electrocatalysts reported for alkaline HER.

Induction of CoP Growth on a MXene (TiCT)-Modified Self-Supporting Electrode for Efficient Overall Water Splitting.

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 CoP NAs on the surface of a MXene (TiCT)-modified self-supporting electrode is demonstrated as a competent and reliable bifunctional electrocatalyst for efficient water splitting. The heterointerface in CoP@TiCT with an optimized adsorption free energy of H*, HO, and better conductivity can give enhanced HER (hydrogen evolution reaction) activity, with a low overpotential (42 mV) at 10 mA cm.

Co-Doped NiN Nanosheets with Electron Redistribution as Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Efficient Water Splitting.

Preparation of high-activity and earth-abundant bifunctional catalysts for efficient electrochemical water splitting are crucial and challenging. Herein, Co-doped NiN nanosheets loaded on nickel foam (Co-NiN) were synthesized. The as-prepared Co-NiN exhibits excellent catalytic activity toward both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media.

Synergetic Effect of NiP and MXene Enhances Catalytic Activity in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Developing highly efficient non-precious electrocatalytic materials for H production in an alkaline medium is attractive on the front of green energy production. Herein, we successfully designed an electrocatalyst with superb hydrophilicity, high conductivity, and a kinetically beneficial structure using NiP/MXene over a 3D Ni foam (NF) for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) based on the laboratory and computational research works. The designed self-supported and highly effective electrocatalyst achieves a huge boost in the HER activity compared with that of pristine NiP nanosheets owing to the distinctive structure and synergy of coupling TiCT and NiP.