One-step synthesis of a self-supported copper phosphide nanobush for overall water splitting

Abstract

Developing cheap, stable, and efficient electrocatalysts is of extreme importance in the effort to replace noble metal electrocatalysts for use in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). We report a three-dimensional self-supported Cu3P nanobush (NB) catalyst directly grown on a copper mesh via a one-step method. This nanostructure exhibits a superior catalytic activity of achieving a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at 120 mV and exhibits a long-term stability in acid solutions. It shows a Tafel slope of 72 mV dec−1 and an onset potential of −44 mV. This catalyst displays a good catalytic activity in basic electrolytes, reaching a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at the overpotential values of 252 and 380 mV for HER and OER, respectively. The bifunctional Cu3P NB/Cu catalyst exhibits better catalytic performances than the Pt/C and IrO2 catalysts in a two-electrode electrolyzer for overall water splitting.