Hollow CoP microspheres as superior bifunctional electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution in a broad pH range and oxygen evolution reactions

Morphology regulation and ion doping are two common ways to improve catalytic performance. Herein, hollow CoP microspheres were synthesized via a facile template-free solvothermal approach with a following low-temperature phosphating process. The as-synthesized CoP hollow microspheres show preeminent electrocatalytic HER performance in a wide pH range (1.0 ​M KOH, 1.0 ​M PBS and 0.5 ​M ​H2SO4), and also deliver superior OER catalytic activity and low Tafel slope. Meanwhile, its catalytic activity could be maintained almost unchanged for at least 6 ​h in acidic solution, neutral solution and alkaline solution. These superior electrochemical properties will render the hollow CoP microsphere material as an attractive material for promising application in high-performance electrochemical water decomposition systems.