Self-supported transition metal phosphide based electrodes as high-efficient water splitting cathodes

Abstract

Electrolytic water splitting has been considered as a promising technology to produce highly pure H₂ by using electrical power produced from wind, solar energy or other fitful renewable energy resources. Combining novel self-supporting structure and high-performance transition metal phosphides (TMP) shows substantial promise for practical application in water splitting. In this review, we try to provide a comprehensive analysis of the design and fabrication of various self-supported TMP electrodes for hydrogen evolution reaction, which are divided into three categories: catalysts growing on carbon-based substrates, catalysts growing on metal-based substrates and freestanding catalyst films. The material structures together with catalytic performances of self-supported electrodes are presented and discussed. We also show the specific strategies to further improve the catalytic performance by elemental doping or incorporation of nanocarbons. The simple and one-step methods to fabricate self-supported TMP electrodes are also highlighted. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for self-supported TMP electrodes in water splitting application are briefly discussed.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

transition metal phosphide / self-supported electrode / electrocatalysis / hydrogen evolution reaction

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation project (Grant Nos. 2015M572135 and 2017T100547) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51173055, 51572094 and 21401060).

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