Generation of hydrogen accompanied with formate bifunctional NiCoxP@NiCo-LDH nanosheet electrocatalyst.

NiCo x P @ NiCo-LDH catalysts are prepared by phosphating NiCo nanosheets on NiCo-layered double hydroxide (LDH) with multi-layer heterostructure. The NiCo x P @ NiCo-LDH could undergo electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution from the methanol/water mixture and value-added formate co-production. During the electrocatalytic reactions, the phosphating NiCo x P nanosheets could greatly improve the electron transfer efficiency, and it has a synergistic effect with heterostructures to enhance the electrocatalytic performance. During the hydrogen evolution and methanol oxidation reactions, the potential is only 0.132 and 1.23 V when the current density reaches 10 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, the NiCo x P @ NiCo-LDH symmetric two-electrode electrolyzer has a lower potential of only 1.43 V at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and the Faraday efficiency of the production of formate and H 2 is nearly 100%. The electrocatalysts also display excellent stability during the water/methanol co-electrolysis. [Display omitted] • NiCo x P @ NiCo-LDH was prepared using a simple electrochemical deposition method. • The NiCo x P @ NiCo-LDH exhibits superior electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability. • The selectivity of the methanol oxidation reaction is high and the product is value-added formate. • The catalyst shows excellent catalyst activity because of the synergistic effect of Ni and Co and abundant active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]