Strongly Coupled 3D Nanohybrids with Ni2P/Carbon Nanosheets as pH-Universal Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts

Graphical Hydrogen evolution catalyst : Nanohybrids of Ni 2 P nanofilms on carbon nanosheets show high catalytic activity and excellent stability for the hydrogen evolution reaction in pH-universal electrolyte. A reliable strategy has been developed to prepare Ni 2 P nanofilms on carbon nanosheets (CNS) nanohybrids (Ni 2 P/CNS), which involves the preparation of three-dimensional (3D) CNS followed by in situ growth of Ni 2 P nanofilms on the surface of CNS. The Ni 2 P/CNS nanohybrids possess a robust 3D hierarchical structure, in which the Ni 2 P films are solidly overlaid on the surface of the CNS. The Ni 2 P/CNS nanohybrid was characterized by a variety of techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), etc. A series of electrochemical tests demonstrate the Ni 2 P/CNS nanohybrid shows high catalytic activity and excellent stability towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in pH-universal electrolyte, that is, in acidic, neutral, and basic media. The outstanding performance for Ni 2 P/CNS is correlated with the synergic effects between Ni 2 P and CNS associated with its unique and robust structure.