Flower-Like Nickel Phosphide Microballs Assembled by Nanoplates with Exposed High-Energy (0 0 1) Facets: Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Title Flower-Like Nickel Phosphide Microballs Assembled by Nanoplates with Exposed High-Energy (0 0 1) Facets: Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.
Authors H. Wang; Y. Xie; H. Cao; Y. Li; L. Li; Z. Xu; X. Wang; N. Xiong; K. Pan
Journal ChemSusChem
DOI 10.1002/cssc.201701647
Abstract

The fabrication of low-cost and earth-abundant electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) over a broad pH range is attractive. In this work, a facile precursor route is developed to synthesize flower-like nickel phosphide microballs with a diameter of approximately 12??m. With a controlled phosphorization temperature, flower-like nickel phosphide microballs with different crystalline structures (Ni5 P4 and Ni2 P) were obtained easily. Flower-like Ni5 P4 microballs possessed two advantageous features for enhanced HER: fast vectorial electron transfer path along the building block nanoplates and enhanced inherent catalytic activity of each active site for high-energy (0?0?1) facets. The flower-like Ni5 P4 microballs electrocatalyst thus displayed excellent activity for the HER with a low overpotential (?) of 35.4?mV to reach current densities of 10?mA?cm-2 and a small Tafel slope of 48?mV?dec-1 in acid solution. In addition, it showed excellent activity in 1?m KOH with ?=47?mV at 10?mA?cm-2 . DFT studies indicated that the free energy of hydrogen adsorbed on the Ni site of Ni5 P4 was 0.152?eV, which is smaller than that of the Ni site of Ni2 P (0.182?eV). Therefore, flower-like Ni5 P4 microballs exhibited better HER activity than Ni2 P, which is consistent with our HER data. This hierarchical structure with exposed high-energy (0?0?1) facets paves the way to design and synthesize low-cost, high-performance catalysts for the HER.

Citation H. Wang; Y. Xie; H. Cao; Y. Li; L. Li; Z. Xu; X. Wang; N. Xiong; K. Pan.Flower-Like Nickel Phosphide Microballs Assembled by Nanoplates with Exposed High-Energy (0 0 1) Facets: Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.. ChemSusChem. 2017;10(24):48994908. doi:10.1002/cssc.201701647

Related Elements

Nickel

See more Nickel products. Nickel (atomic symbol: Ni, atomic number: 28) is a Block D, Group 4, Period 4 element with an atomic weight of 58.6934. Nickel Bohr ModelThe number of electrons in each of nickel's shells is [2, 8, 16, 2] and its electron configuration is [Ar]3d8 4s2. Nickel was first discovered by Alex Constedt in 1751. The nickel atom has a radius of 124 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 184 pm. In its elemental form, nickel has a lustrous metallic silver appearance. Nickel is a hard and ductile transition metal that is considered corrosion-resistant because of its slow rate of oxidation. Elemental NickelIt is one of four elements that are ferromagnetic and is used in the production of various type of magnets for commercial use. Nickel is sometimes found free in nature but is more commonly found in ores. The bulk of mined nickel comes from laterite and magmatic sulfide ores. The name originates from the German word kupfernickel, which means "false copper" from the illusory copper color of the ore.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus Bohr ModelSee more Phosphorus products. Phosphorus (atomic symbol: P, atomic number: 15) is a Block P, Group 15, Period 3 element. The number of electrons in each of Phosphorus's shells is 2, 8, 5 and its electronic configuration is [Ne] 3s2 3p3. The phosphorus atom has a radius of 110.5.pm and its Van der Waals radius is 180.pm. Phosphorus is a highly-reactive non-metallic element (sometimes considered a metalloid) with two primary allotropes, white phosphorus and red phosphorus its black flaky appearance is similar to graphitic carbon. Compound forms of phosphorus include phosphates and phosphides. Phosphorous was first recognized as an element by Hennig Brand in 1669 its name (phosphorus mirabilis, or "bearer of light") was inspired from the brilliant glow emitted by its distillation.

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