Construction of Co2P nanoparticles anchored on hollow N-doped porous carbon nanoleaf for high-efficiency water splitting

Developing low-cost and robust bifunctional transition metal phosphide (TMPs)-based catalysts with controlled structures and compositions is very important for overall water splitting (OWS). Herein, we report a new hollow leaf -like Co2P/N-doped porous carbon (Co2P-NC) composite, using the Co -doped zeolitic imidazolate framework nanoleaf (Co-ZIF-L) coated with polydopamine (PDA) layer as precursor and phytic acid as etchant and phosphorus source. Due to the etching and coordination reaction between phytic acid and leaf -like Co-ZIF-L, the hollow structure is formed after an one -set pyrolysis process. Within this as -prepared TMP/carbon composite, Co2P nanoparticles are encapsulated and dispersed in two-dimensional (2D) hollow leaf -like N -doped porous carbon. Benefiting from structural and componential advantages, the Co2P-NC exhibits high catalytic activity and durability for both HER and OER as well as OWS in the alkaline medium. Unlike the traditional gas-solid reaction method for preparing TMPs, the present synthetic strategy is more safe and simple, which is very feasible for designing hollow TMPs/porous carbon composites.