Transition metal-doped nickel phosphide nanoparticles as electro- and photocatalysts for hydrogen generation reactions

Journal article

Transition metal-doped nickel phosphide nanoparticles with metallic properties are prepared by a simple and facile wet-chemical method. It is shown for the first time that these transition metals: iron, cobalt, manganese, and molybdenum, can atomically substitute nickel in the parent hcp phosphide lattice as a single phase without significant change in its metallic structure and morphology. They are employed as electro- and photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction, which show highly tunable activities dependent on electron filling of their metallic bands and H coverage according to our experimental and theoretical rationalizations. Molybdenum-doped nickel phosphide nanoparticle with lower H coverage exhibits the best hydrogen evolution performance in electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction, which also shows excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production with organic photosensitizer. In addition, cobalt-doped nickel phosphide nanoparticle with higher H coverage with aqueous photosensitizer gives more superior hydrogen evolution rate.

Authors: Man, H; Tsang, C; Li, M; Mo, J; Huang, B

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
• Volume: 242
• Pages: 186-193
• Publication date: 2018-10-02
• Acceptance date: 2018-09-30
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.09.103
• ISSN: 0926-3373
• Keywords: hydrogen evolution reaction; metal doping; nickel phosphide; photocatalysis; electrocatalysis