Converting surface-oxidized cobalt phosphides into Co2(P2O7)-CoP heterostructures for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Exploring noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a key issue in a hydrogen economy blueprint. As one of the promising candidates, transition metal phosphides unfortunately suffer from inevitable surface oxidation which obstructs active-site exposure. Herein, a facile reduction followed by a surface phosphorization is introduced to convert surface-oxidized cobalt phosphides to a Co2(P2O7)-CoP heterostructure embedded in N-doped carbon (Co2(P2O7)-CoP/NC), accomplishing an efficient HER in both acidic and alkaline electrolytes. It affords low overpotentials (η10) of 88 and 97 mV to reach a current density of −10 mA cm−2, and small Tafel slopes of 51 and 61 mV dec−1 in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1.0 M KOH, respectively, outperforming the parent surface-oxidized Co2P and most previously-reported Pt-free electrocatalysts. The remarkably improved electrocatalysis should be ascribed to the strong surface acidity of the Co2(P2O7) component and thereby the promoted HER kinetics on Co2(P2O7)-CoP interfaces. This work will encourage the development of cost-efficient electrocatalysts via surface engineering.