Electrospun porous carbon nanofibers decorated with iron-doped cobalt phosphide nanoparticles for hydrogen evolution

Abstract

Developing highly active and cost-effective electrocatalysts to replace noble metal catalysts is the main route for the efficient production of green hydrogen. Herein, we have successfully fabricated iron-doped cobalt phosphide nanoparticles-decorated porous carbon nanofibers (Fe-CoP/PCNF) by a facile three-step method. On one hand, the electrospun nanofibers could serve as porous and conductive substrate for the exposure of active sites and the fast charge transfer; On the other hand, the Fe-CoP nanoparticles with optimized hydrogen adsorption free energy showed high intrinsic catalytic activity. Hence, the Fe-CoP/PCNF achieves excellent HER performance, which affords overpotential of 151 mV to support the current density of 10 mA cm −2 in acid media. Moreover, the nanoparticles were protected by a carbon layer, preventing the electrocatalyst from corrosion during long-term operation. The findings may shed light on the rational exploration of nanofibrous electrocatalysts for highly efficient hydrogen evolution. • Fe-doped CoP nanoparticles are conveniently generated on electrospun porous carbon nanofiber. • The Fe-doped CoP nanoparticles possess high intrinsic catalytic activity for HER. • Porous carbon nanofibers with massive active sites and high conductivity are beneficial to the HER performance.