Electron transfer enhanced flower-like NiP₂-Mo₈P₅ heterostructure synergistically accelerates fast HER kinetics for...

Developing an innovative metal-phosphorus heterostructure as an excellent electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for achieving large-scale water electrolysis, although it remains challenging. Herein, we introduce a pioneering strategy entailing the coordination of two metal phosphides in a catalytic structure by employing a wide variety of catalytically active species and regulating the electronic structure. Our method involves an extraordinary heterostructure construction with nickel phosphide and molybdenum phosphide formed on nickel foam (NiP₂-Mo₈P₅@NF) through a controlled-solvent thermal and low-temperature phosphorization strategy. Experiments disclose that heterostructure of nickel and molybdenum can effectively modulate the electronic structure of the metal center, foster a robust electronic interaction between Ni and Mo, and induce the formation of rich active sites. The resulting benefits include improved electrical conductivity, which is conducive to synergistically enhancing the electrocatalytic efficiency. Moreover, the NiP₂-Mo₈P₅@NF achieves superhydrophilicity, ensuring effective electrolyte contact and accelerating reaction kinetics. Consequently, NiP₂-Mo₈P₅@NF exhibits favorable HER performance and long-term stability, outperforming commercial Pt/C and most other contemporary electrocatalysts. In practical application, the overall water splitting device with NiP₂-Mo₈P₅@NF as cathode delivers a low cell voltage and demonstrates noteworthy durability. This will pave the way for its prospective adoption in industrial water electrolysis applications.