Development of a Multi‐Element Copper‐Phosphorus‐Based Electrode for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract The development of efficient, abundant, and inexpensive catalytic materials for hydrogen evolution is key to industrial water electrolysis for hydrogen production. In this study, we utilized an anodic dissolution method to form a layer of gray film on the surface of a commercially available copper‐phosphorus alloy plate. The composition of the gray film, as verified by characterization, was Ni 2 P/Ni 12 P 5 /Sn 4 P 3 /Cu 3 P@Cu. The heterogeneous interface of N i2 P/Ni 12 P 5 and the amorphous structure of Sn 4 P 3 /Cu 3 P provide more exposed active sites. The effectiveness of the Ni 2 P/Ni 12 P 5 /Sn 4 P 3 /Cu 3 P@Cu as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution was demonstrated, with a corresponding hydrogen evolution overpotential of 73.10 mV and Tafel slope of 45.55 mV dec −1 . Moreover, the outstanding stability of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) after 1000 cyclic voltammetry (CV) cycles in an alkaline medium infers its favorable electrocatalytic durability.