Highly dispersed NiCoP nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes modified nickel foam for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen production

Highlights: •A NiCoP electrode as robust HER catalyst was prepared by electrodeposition method. •Carbon nanotubes modified nickel foam serves as an efficient support for the formation and dispersion of NiCoP catalyst. •The Ni introduction into CoP catalyst changed the surface morphology and largely enhanced the catalytic HER performance. -- Abstract: Advanced materials for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are significant for future sustainable energy. On the basis of transition metal phosphides (TMPs), we developed a method to engineer well-dispersed NiCoP nanoparticles by introducing carbon nanotubes on Ni Foam (CNT/NF) as a high active electrocatalyst for HER. The obtained catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and the catalytic activity was evaluated by electrochemical technique. The as-prepared NiCoP/CNT/NF electrode exhibits efficient electrocatalytic activity towards HER with an onset overpotential of 69 mV and a small Tafel slope in 1 M KOH. These results suggest the possibility for creating binder-free CNTs supported and element doped electrode in electrochemical water splitting.