Three-dimensional assembly of iron phosphide nanosheets: novel synthesis and enhanced catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction

Min Wang, ^[a] Rupeng Zhao, ^[a] Xingyun Li, ^[b] Xiusong Zhao, ^{[b] [c]} and Luhua Jiang*^[a]

[a]     Nanomaterial and Electrocatalysis Laboratory, College of Materials Science & Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, 53 Zhengzhou Road, Qingdao 266042, PR China. E-mail: luhuajiang@qust.edu.cn (L. Jiang)

[b]    Institute of Materials for Energy and Environment, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, PR China

[c]    School of Chemical Engineering, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4074, Australia

Abstract:

Iron phosphides as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts show promising but currently limited activity due to low active sites and poor electro-conductivity. Herein, iron phosphide nanosheets was for the first time synthesized and assembled to display three-dimensional structures via a physical-vapor-infiltration assisted hard template strategy. The 3D structured FeP_x nanosheet assembly exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution reaction in a wide pH range, outperforming most of the FeP_x catalysts reported to date in activity and superior stability to the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Spectroscopic analyses and electrochemical results support that the fast electron transfer, active sites and expedited mass transportation, benefiting from the 3D structured FeP_x nanosheets, boost the HER process.