Surface wettability engineering: CoSx-Ni3S2 nanoarray electrode for improving overall water splitting

Besides the development of effective catalysts, surface property of the electrode is also crucial in electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Herein, a nanosheet array electrode of CoSx-Ni3S2/NF was designed by a facile hydrothermal process. Particularly, the obtained electrode was endowed with superhydrophilicity and superaerophobicity, which not only facilitates to the exposure of active sites, but also alleviates the “bubble shielding effect” for gas diffusion. Consequently, the nanosheet array electrode demonstrated excellent full water splitting activities in alkaline condition, which only need a low voltage of 1.63 V to achieve a current density of 100 mA cm–2 and can keep a long durability for 20 h at 20 mA cm−2. Additionally, the production of hydrogen powered by the electricity derived from solar and wind energy utilizing the CoSx-Ni3S2/NF as the electrocatalysts in laboratory condition was also simulated. This work will provide a novel perspective for HER research from the engineering of electrode-architecture.