Innovative Morphology Control Method: Modulating Metal Ratios in Ni_xCoP@NF for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The use of non-precious metal materials for catalyzing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) holds significant importance for the widespread application of new energy technologies. In this study, we prepare a novel foam nickel (NF) supported NixCoP (NixCoP@NF) nanocrystal through a one-pot hydrothermal method and high-temperature phosphorization, involving a straightforward process. Innovatively, we achieve morphology control of NixCoP@NF by altering the Ni : Co ratio to maximize its active surface area. The resulting ' petal-like ' Ni0.5CoP@NF nanostructure exhibits high activity and long-term durability in an alkaline medium (1 M KOH), with an overpotential of 58 mV at a current density of 10 mA & sdot; cm(-2), a Tafel slope of 60.82 mV & sdot; dec(-1), and demonstrates lower impedance compared to most non-precious metal HER electro catalysts. Furthermore, the variation in activation energy (E-a) reflects the thermodynamic advantages during the electrolysis process. This work offers a new approach for the development of simple and cost-effective HER catalysts.