One-step Synthesis of Self-standing Ni3S2/Ni2P Heteronanorods on Nickel Foam for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution over a Wide pH Range

Graphical Please stand up : Self-standing Ni 3 S 2 /Ni 2 P heteronanorod arrays were successfully grown on nickel foam (Ni-S−P NRs/NF) via a facile simultaneous phosphorization and sulfurization thermal treatment of NF at a low temperature. The Ni-S−P NRs/NF exhibited excellent and stable hydrogen evolution reaction catalytic activity in a wide pH range, which can be attributed to the rational configuration and the coupling interactions between Ni 3 S 2 and Ni 2 P. The development of efficient, stable and low-cost electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) through a facile strategy is undoubtedly vital to realize sustainable production of H 2 in water splitting but still challenging. Herein, we present a one-step approach, a simultaneous phosphorization and sulfurization thermal treatment of NF at low temperature, to direct grow Ni-S−P heteronanorod arrays consisting of Ni 3 S 2 and Ni 2 P on nickel foam (Ni-S−P NRs/NF). Due to the direct growth, one-dimensional structure and good conductivity of the catalyst hybrid, as well as the synergistic effect between Ni 3 S 2 and Ni 2 P, the resultant Ni-S−P NRs/NF exhibited excellent HER electrocatalytic activity over a wide pH range. Ni-S−P NRs/NF shows an overpotential of 180, 148 and 292 mV to reach the current density of 100 mA cm −2 in 1.0 M KOH, 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 and 1.0 M PBS solution, respectively. DFT theoretical calculations was further confirmed that the superior pH-universal HER activity of Ni-S−P NRs/NF is originated from the thermo-neutral hydrogen adsorption free energy and the enhanced adsorption of water molecular by the Ni 3 S 2 /Ni 2 P heterostructure.