Highly Efficient Spatial Three-Level CoP@ZIF-8/pNF Based on Modified Porous NF as Dual Functional Electrocatalyst for...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Non-noble metal catalysts are crucial for sustainable hydrogen production via water electrolysis, addressing carbon neutrality goals.
• Existing catalysts often suffer from complex preparation, low activity, and high energy demands, limiting practical applications.
• Developing efficient and stable non-noble metal electrocatalysts remains a significant challenge in the field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a novel three-level structured electrocatalyst for efficient water electrolysis.
• To enhance catalytic activity, reduce overpotential, and improve stability using a unique material architecture.
• To demonstrate the potential of the developed catalyst for hydrogen and oxygen production, contributing to green energy solutions.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a three-level structured electrocatalyst: CoP@ZIF-8 grown on modified porous nickel foam (pNF).
• Utilized a natural growing and phosphating process for catalyst synthesis.
• Electrochemical characterization including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and overall water splitting performance tests.

Main Results:

• The modified pNF substrate created a hierarchical porous structure, increasing surface area and catalyst loading.
• Achieved low overpotentials for HER (77 mV at 10 mA cm⁻²) and OER (226 mV at 10 mA cm⁻²).
• Demonstrated excellent overall water splitting performance (1.57 V at 10 mA cm⁻²) and remarkable stability (>55 h at 10 mA cm⁻²).

Conclusions:

• The developed CoP@ZIF-8/pNF electrocatalyst exhibits superior performance and stability for water electrolysis.
• The unique three-level porous structure is key to enhancing catalytic efficiency and material utilization.
• This work presents a promising non-noble metal catalyst for scalable hydrogen production, aligning with sustainable energy strategies.