NiCoP Nanoparticles as Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction in an Alkaline Solution

Water splitting can acquire clean energy. To enhance the water splitting ability, electrocatalysts qualify high catalytic ability and low cost are need to be explored. Herein, a bimetal phosphide (NiCoP) nanomaterial is reported as an efficient electrocatalyst for water oxidation. The ternary nickel cobalt phosphide nanoparticles were synthesized from the solution-phase reaction of organic Co and Ni precursors with trioctylphosphine. The nanoparticle size is 18 +/- 5 nm. After annealing, the catalytic ability of NiCoP is significantly enhanced. The overpotential decreased from 480 to 330 mV vs RHE at 10 mA cm(-2) in 1 mol dm(-3) KOH alkaline solution. When hydrophilic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) mixed with the NiCoP to form hybrid NiCoP-CNTs, the overpential further decreased from 330 to 320 mV vs RHE at 10 mA cm(-2). The Tafel slopes of ca. 69 and 52 mV are found for annealed NiCoP and NiCoP-CNTs, respectively. The stability test of NiCoP-CNTs also shown the remarkable catalytic activity for long-term operation.