Abstract
The rational design and strategy of obtaining stable bifunctional electrocatalysts with unique functionalities are prerequisite to achieving robust catalytic activity. In this study, a composition-controlled partial sulfurization/phosphorization strategy to synthesize a doughnut-like 3D heterostructured electrocatalyst for overall water splitting is proposed, wherein core–shell 2D CoS1−xPx nanosheets decorated with N-doped carbon are self-assembled to form a hierarchical 3D architecture. The composition and phase structure in core–shell CoS1−xPx can be readily modified by controlling the liquid phase sulfurization and subsequent phosphorization, thereby modifying the electronic structure and activating the intrinsic active sites. The resulting CoS1−xPx benefits from the unique structural features including high accessible active surface area, adequate amount of reactive sites, intimate interfacial coupling between the components, interconnected electron highway, and accelerated charge/mass transfer ability. Consequently, the optimized CoS0.46P0.54 electrocatalyst achieves a catalytic current density of 10 mA cm−2 at overpotentials as low as 101 and 302 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction, respectively, with outstanding long-term operational stability in alkaline solution. The CoS0.46P0.54 couple enables an alkaline water electrolysis with a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a low cell voltage of 1.62 V, comparable to that of the RuO2||Pt/C couple (1.6 V).
Original language | English |
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Article number | 2000043 |
Journal | Small Methods |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2020 Jul 1 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by a National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea grant (No. 2012R1A3A2026417) and the Creative Materials Discovery Program (NRF‐2018M3D1A1058793) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Funding Information:
This work was supported by a National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea grant (No. 2012R1A3A2026417) and the Creative Materials Discovery Program (NRF-2018M3D1A1058793) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Chemistry(all)
- Materials Science(all)