NiFeP composites supported on Ni foam as an efficient and robust bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting in alkaline solution

Abstract

Developing high-efficiency and cost-effective bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting is crucial for the utilization of hydrogen energy. In this work, NiFeP composites supported on Ni foam were prepared by a mild, wet chemical method followed by an in situ phosphorization process. The as-prepared NiFeP/NF exhibits high electrocatalytic activity in hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, which should be attributed to the unique heterostructures in the NiFeP composite. When used as a bifunctional catalyst for overall water splitting in an alkaline solution, a long-term duration of 1100 h has been achieved under a current density of 300 mA cm−2. Such good performance makes the composite a promising electrocatalyst and ranks it among the best catalysts reported recently for overall water splitting under alkaline conditions. Notably, the preparation of NiFeP/NF can be accomplished without complicated reaction conditions and using expensive instruments, which enables great potential for large-scale application.