Double-step hydrothermal synthesis of tungsten-doped copper-boron-phosphide: a high-potential micro spheroid cluster...

Developing highly efficient noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for economical hydrogen production through water-splitting is crucial to fostering alternative energy sources, though it remains a significant challenge. Herein, tungsten-doped copper‑boron-phosphide (W/CuBP) micro-spheroid cluster _(MSC) electrocatalyst is successfully fabricated using a systematic two-step hydrothermal approach to achieve outstanding hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performances with overpotentials of 60 and 218 mV at 50 mA/cm², respectively, in 1 M KOH. The bifunctional W/CuBP || W/CuBP configuration demonstrates a two-electrode (2-E) cell potential of only 1.64 V compared to the benchmark of 1.67 V at 100 mA/cm², establishing it as highly competitive with state-of-the-art electrocatalysts. The W/CuBP exhibits excellent operational stability with improved large-current characteristics and relatively high pH-universal and natural water activity. A small amount of heteroatom tungsten (W) doping substantially increases the electrocatalytic properties of copper‑boron-phosphide (CuBP) micro particles, attributed to the exposed abundant active sites, desirable adsorption/desorption capability, faster oxidation-reduction reaction and higher conductivity. As a result, the concept of designing W/CuBP electrode provides new insights into transition metal-focused HER/OER and bifunctional electrocatalysts towards an advanced water-splitting economy.