High-Performance Rh ₂ P Electrocatalyst for Efficient Water Splitting

Journal Article · Wed Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.7b01376· OSTI ID:1358474

Duan, Haohong; Li, Dongguo; Tang, Yan; He, Yang; Ji, Shufang; Wang, Rongyue; Lv, Haifeng; Lopes, Pietro P.; Paulikas, Arvydas P.; Li, Haoyi; Mao, Scott X.; Wang, Chongmin; Markovic, Nenad M.; Li, Jun; Stamenkovic, Vojislav R.; Li, Yadong

Search for active, stable and cost-efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen production via water splitting could make substantial impact to the energy technologies that do not rely on fossil fuels. Here we report the synthesis of rhodium phosphide electrocatalyst with low metal loading in the form of nanocubes (NCs) dispersed in high surface area carbon (Rh2P/C) by a facile solvo-thermal approach. The Rh2P/C NCs exhibit remarkable performance for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) compared to Rh/C and Pt/C catalysts. The atomic structure of the rhodium phosphide nanocubes was directly observed by annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF-STEM), which revealed phosphorous-rich outermost atomic layer. Combined experimental and computational studies suggest that surface phosphorous plays crucial role in determining the robust catalyst properties.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1358474
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-123543; KP1704020
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society Journal Issue: 15 Vol. 139; ISSN 0002-7863
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English