Highly Active Electrocatalysis of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction by Cobalt Phosphide Nanoparticles |
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Authors: | Eric J Popczun Carlos G Read Christopher W Roske Prof Nathan S Lewis Prof Raymond E Schaak |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Chemistry and Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 (USA);2. Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125 (USA) |
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Abstract: | Nanoparticles of cobalt phosphide, CoP, have been prepared and evaluated as electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under strongly acidic conditions (0.50 M H2SO4, pH 0.3). Uniform, multi‐faceted CoP nanoparticles were synthesized by reacting Co nanoparticles with trioctylphosphine. Electrodes comprised of CoP nanoparticles on a Ti support (2 mg cm?2 mass loading) produced a cathodic current density of 20 mA cm?2 at an overpotential of ?85 mV. The CoP/Ti electrodes were stable over 24 h of sustained hydrogen production in 0.50 M H2SO4. The activity was essentially unchanged after 400 cyclic voltammetric sweeps, suggesting long‐term viability under operating conditions. CoP is therefore amongst the most active, acid‐stable, earth‐abundant HER electrocatalysts reported to date. |
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Keywords: | electrocatalysis hydrogen evolution metal phosphide nanomaterials water splitting |
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