Effect of phosphorization temperature on the structure and hydrogen evolution reaction performance of nickel cobalt phosphide electrocatalysts

Nickel cobalt phosphides electrocatalysts have shown great potential for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) but further improvements are necessary. Here, nickel cobalt phosphide nanosheets were synthesized via electrodeposition followed by phosphorization methodology. The relationships between phosphorization temperature and the structure or hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity were studied. The catalyst phosphated at 350 °C (NiCoP-350/CC) displayed excellent HER performance in alkaline media with a low overpotential of 59 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2 (η10 = 59 mV). This could be attributed to the formation and better dispersion of active NiCoP crystalline phase on the surface of carbon cloth.