A Nanoneedle Ni12P5 Array for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction with High Efficiency over a Wide pH Range

Graphical A facile one-step phosphorization method to fabricate a 1D Ni 12 P 5 nanoneedle array was reported. The obtained Ni 12 P 5 requires overpotentials of 59, 117, and 148 mV to reach the current density of 10, 50 and 100 mA cm −2 toward HER in 1 mol/L KOH solution, respectively. Excellent electrochemical performances demonstrate that the nickel phosphide could be a candidate for high-performance water electrolysis over a wide pH range. Transition metal phosphides (TMP) with high conductivity and better H* intermediate adsorption energy have attracted great attention in hydrogen evolution process. Herein, a Ni 12 P 5 nanoneedle array was synthesized by a facile one-step phosphorization method. As expected, the obtained Ni 12 P 5 nanoneedle arrays exhibits high HER performance, and low overpotentials of 59, 117, and 148 mV are need to drive hydrogen evolution at current densities of 10, 50, and 100 mA cm −2 in 1 mol/L KOH electrolyte, respectively. Meanwhile, the obtained electrode exhibits excellent hydrogen evolution activity in both acidic and neutral media. Excellent electrochemical performances demonstrate that the nickel phosphide could be a candidate for high-performance water electrolysis over a wide pH range.