A novel composite of network-like tungsten phosphide nanostructures grown on carbon fibers with enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution efficiency

作者：Xu, Keke; Fu, Xiuli^*; Li, Hong; Peng, Zhijian^*

来源：Applied Surface Science, 2018, 456: 230-237.

DOI：10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.06.106

• Tungsten phosphide
• Carbon fiber
• Network-like nanostructure
• Hydrogen evolution
• Electrocatalysis

Enhancing the electrocatalytic activity of transition metal phosphides (TMPs) for hydrogen evolution has become an attractive way for noble-metal-free electrocatalysts. In this work, a novel composite of network-like tungsten phosphide nanostructures on carbon fibers (CFs@WP) was prepared by a two-step high-temperature calcination strategy. Owing to the high electrochemical active surface area originating from the WP nanostructures of network-like morphology and the enhanced conductivity caused by the introduction of carbon fibers, the obtained CFs@WP composite, as an integrated hydrogen evolution cathode, exhibits much higher electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution than pure WP nano-/micro-particles after toasting their corresponding suspension onto bare CFs. This catalyst could, in 0.5 mol.L-1 H2SO4, deliver a current density of 10 and 100 mA.cm(-2) respectively at the over-potential of merely 137 mV and 215 mV, and present a small Tafel slope of 69 mV.dec(-1) as well as excellent stability at various current densities, although it may exhibit relatively inferior catalytic activity in hydrogen evolution in neutral and alkaline conditions. The present strategy may also offer a straight-forward model to enhance the hydrogen evolution activity of other TMPs catalysts.

• 出版日期2018-10-31
• 单位中国地质大学（北京）; 北京邮电大学; 信息光子学与光通信国家重点实验室