Ni-Co-P nanosheets in-situ grown at macroporous nickel mesh with promising performance for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium

Pursuing efficient, economical, and stable electrodes on hydrogen production by water splitting is of great significance for new energy sources. In this work, Ni-Co-P self-supported electrocatalyst at macroporous nickel mesh electrode (NCP/NM) was prepared by a combination of hydrothermal and phosphorylation reactions. The Ni-Co with spherical form was in-situ deposited on nickel mesh (NM) in the alkaline environment provided by aqueous ammonia. The phosphorylation process offered the doping of P elements at the surface of Ni-Co, forming irregular nanosheets. The fabricated electrode only needed to be supplied with an overpotential of 126 mV to respond to a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH electrolyte. The lower Tafel slope (87.62 mV dec−1) and charge transfer resistance suggested NCP/NM electrode exhibited competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics. In addition, NCP/NM showed good durability and applicability in the alkaline medium. The increase in electrochemical active area, the fast electron transfer without binder, and the synergistic effect among Ni, Co, and P collectively contributed to the electrode with competitive hydrogen production performance. The inspiring HER performance of NCP/NM, as well as the low-cost and easily accessible synthesis method, displayed the enormous potential and advantages of its application in industrial water splitting for hydrogen production.