Highly dispersed cobalt metaphosphate nanoparticles embedded in tri-doped carbon as a pH-Wide electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution
By Wang, Yinghua; Li, Haibo; Yao, Qingxia; Li, Rui; Guo, Zengjing; Chen, Hongyan; Qu, Konggang; Li, Ruiqing
Published in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
2020
Abstract
Electrocatalytically hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is most promising approach for the large-scale generation of hydrogen, but the prohibitive and scarce Pt-based electrocatalyst therein greatly restricts the advancement of hydrogen-related technology. Exploring low-cost electrocatalysts with superior activity and stability at different applicable conditions is being of great concern. Herein, we controllably synthesized highly dispersed 3 nm cobalt metaphosphate (Co(PO3)2) nanoparticles embedded in N,P,S-tridoped carbon by a facile two-step mixing and pyrolysis method. The resultant nanocomposite with hierarchical microflower morphology assembled by the tridoped carbon nanosheets dotted with ultrafine Co(PO3)2 particles, showing superior all-pH activity, and particularly a better alkaline large-current-density activity than Pt/C. The ultrasmall Co(PO3)2 particles together with abundant phosphate groups and heteroatom dopants synergistically afford highly active catalytic centers for HER, as well as the all-pH robust stability of which endowed by the encapsulation of tridoped carbon. The mesoporous carbon composite nanosheets integrate into open and accessible microflower structures and thus facilitate the unhampered mass and charge transfer.