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At present, it is still challenging to design high-performance and low-cost non-noble mental catalysts. In this work, nickel phosphide (Ni5P4) was combined with FeV LDH via an in situ growth approach to form porous nanosheet arrays. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of atoms between Ni5P4 and FeV LDH, the hybrid electrocatalyst displays significantly enhanced electro-catalytic properties for the anodic reaction. Impressively, the Ni5P4@FeV LDH material delivers 10, 50 and 100 mA cm−2 with an overpotential of only 204, 250 and 416 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. Additionally, it also exhibits superior properties for the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) with a low cell voltage of 1.44 V at 50 mA cm−2 and retains stability for at least 15 h in the alkaline electrolyte with 0.33 M urea. This strategy provides a new idea for the design and synthesis of transition metal phosphides that can be used as an efficient electrocatalyst for electrolysis of water and wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalysts with high catalytic activity and low cost are extremely significant for hydrogen production by water cracking. In this work, through simple electrospinning and carbonization methods, Ru with excellent catalytic activity is dispersed onto Fe4C to form Ru–Fe4C nanoparticles loaded on N-doped carbon nanofibers (Ru–Fe4C/NCNF), so that Ru can expose more active sites and thus improve HER catalytic activity. Meanwhile, the addition of low-cost Fe can reduce the use of noble metal Ru, thereby reducing the catalyst cost. On the other hand, the prepared Ru–Fe4C/NCNF can be used as a self-supporting working electrode and shows good stability. The experimental results show that the prepared Ru–Fe4C/NCNF can drive a current density of 10 mA cm−2 with only 106 mV in 1 M KOH, and more importantly, only 254 mV can produce a current density of 100 mA cm−2. At the same time, it shows excellent stability after continuously working for 100 h at a current density of 100 mA cm−2. This work provides a new thought to synthesize economical catalysts with high catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing high-performance and earth-abundant electrocatalysts for hydrogen production by electrolysis of freshwater/seawater is desirable but remains a huge challenge, especially in seawater solution. Herein, we report an efficient catalyst for a cathode consisting of three-dimensional standing arrays of Mo-Ni2P/CC nanosheets uniformly grown on carbon cloth, in which the Mo doping improved the HER properties of Ni2P by providing applicable morphology, electronic properties and active sites. It is found that the as-obtained catalyst shows superior HER activity with a low overpotential of 113 and 154 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH and simulated alkaline seawater solution, respectively. Moreover, the Mo–Ni2P/CC catalyst exhibits favorable stability in 5000 CV cycles in 1 M KOH and reasonable stability in a 20 h stability test in alkaline, simulated seawater and alkaline seawater solution. This work may provide a feasible insight into the construction and development of high-efficiency HER electrocatalysts for freshwater/seawater electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]