An efficient way to improve water splitting electrocatalysis by electrodepositing cobalt phosphide nanosheets onto copper nanowires

Herein, catalysts with improved electrocatalysis of water splitting in alkaline media are accomplished by constructing bushy Cu nanowires on Cu foam to support cobalt phosphide nanosheets (Co–P/Cu NWs/CF). Results demonstrate that the highly efficient electroactivity of Co–P/Cu NWs/CF originates from the high intrinsic activity of Co–P species, Cu nanowires which possess accessible active sites, plentiful bubbles releasing channels, and honored electric conductivity, as well as the interaction between Cu NWs and Co–P species. To achieve a current density of 200 mA cm−2, Co–P/Cu NWs/CF require an overpotential of only 155 mV for hydrogen evolution and 349 mV for oxygen evolution, which are less than that of Co–P/Cu(OH)2 NWs/CF and Co–P/CF. This work provides a simple and efficient approach to designing water splitting electrocatalysts by manufacturing nanostructure-rich conductive substrates to support active species.