Ni2P nanosheets/Ni foam composite electrode for long-lived and pH-tolerable electrochemical hydrogen generation.

The continuous consumption of fossil fuels and accompanying environmental problems are driving the exploration of low-cost and effective electrocatalysts to produce clean hydrogen. A Ni2P nanosheets/Ni foam composite, as a non-noble metal electrocatalyst, has been prepared through a facile chemical conversion pathway using surface oxidized Ni foam as precursor and low concentration of trioctylphosphine (TOP) as a phosphorus source. Further investigation shows the oxidized layer of Ni foam can orient the formation of Ni2P nanosheets and facilitate the reaction with TOP. The Ni2P/Ni, acting as a robust 3D self-supported superaerophobic hydrogen-evolving cathode, shows superior catalytic performance, stability, and durability in aqueous media over a wide pH value of 0–14, making it a versatile catalyst system for hydrogen generation. Such highly active, stable, abundant, and low-cost materials hold enormously promising potential applications in the fields of catalysis, energy conversion, and storage.