Synergistic Promotion of Large-Current Water Splitting through Interfacial Engineering of Hierarchically Structured...

The development of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts with high performance under large current density is still a challenge. Introducing P vacancies in heterostructure is an appealing strategy to enhance HER kinetics. This study investigates a CoP-FeP heterostructure catalyst with abundant P vacancies (Vp-CoP-FeP/NF) on nickel foam (NF), which was prepared using dipping and phosphating treatment. The optimized Vp-CoP-FeP catalyst exerted prominent HER catalytic capability, requiring an ultra-low overpotential (58 mV @ 10 mA cm^-2 ) and displaying robust durability (50 h @ 200 mA cm^-2 ) in 1.0 M KOH solution. Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrated superior overall water splitting activity as cathode, demanding only cell voltage of 1.76 V at 200 mA cm^-2 , outperforming Pt/C/NF^(-) || RuO₂ /NF⁽⁺⁾ . The catalyst's outstanding performance can be attributed to the hierarchical structure of porous nanosheets, abundant P vacancies, and synergistic effect between CoP and FeP components, which promote water dissociation and H* adsorption and desorption, thereby synergically accelerating HER kinetics and enhancing HER activity. This study demonstrates the potential of HER catalysts with phosphorus-rich vacancies that can work under industrial-scale current density, highlighting the importance of developing durable and efficient catalysts for hydrogen production.