Amorphous-crystalline cobalt phosphide hollow nanocubes induced by dual ligand environment for highly efficient hydrogen evolution.

CoP is one of the most promising catalysts for catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction. The foremost issue is how to improve intrinsic activity by regulating electronic structure at the molecular level. Herein, utilizing selective combination of EDTA and Co, an amorphous-crystalline CoP with lower valence cobalt and hollow porous structure which induced by dual ligand environment is successfully synthesized via microwave heating and following phosphating process.