NiCoP nanoarchitectures: One-step controlled electrodeposition and their application as efficient electrocatalysts for boosting hydrogen evolution reaction

Designing non-precious and long-lasting electrocatalysts with enhanced catalytic properties for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a fundamental approach to address the needs for hydrogen industry and overcome the current challenges in sustainable energy generation. Herein, we present ternary NiCoP nanostructures synthesized through a direct and controlled electrochemical deposition at room temperature as highly efficient electrocatalysts for HER. Different Ni/Co ratios in the alloy were investigated resulting in different nanoarchitectured morphologies, chemical compositions and HER performances, in turn. The NiCoP-I alloy exhibited a nanoparticulated morphology comprising well-defined nanoparticles of similar to 20-30 nm which evolved to nanoparticulated caps at prolonged electrodeposition times presenting a large electrochemical surface area of 526 cm(2). The NiCoP -I electrocatalyst demonstrated a small Tafel slope of 49 mV dec(-1) and an ultra-low overpotential of 68 mV vs. RHE at -10 mA cm(-2) in alkaline solution which well rivals to that of Pt foil and outmatches its binary alloy counterparts. (C) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.