Hierarchical CoP3/NiMoO4 heterostructures on Ni foam as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting

Abstract Controllable synthesis strategies of the cost-effective and high-active non-noble metal bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting are imperatively required. Herein, the hierarchical heterostructure CoP3/NiMoO4 nanosheets on Ni foam (CoP3/NiMoO4–NF) are synthesized by hydrothermal, annealing and phosphorization treatment. The synergistic effect between CoP3 and NiMoO4 remarkably promotes the HER intrinsic activity. Moreover, the Ni foam promotes the vertical growth of well-aligned nanosheet arrays, which expose more active sites for HER and OER. The CoP3/NiMoO4–NF-2 (Co/Mo = 1/1) electrocatalyst reveals a low overpotential of 92 mV for HER and 347 mV for OER at 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH. Especially, the CoP3/NiMoO4–NF-2 exhibits exceptional performance for overall water splitting which presents a low cell voltage of 1.57 V at 10 mA cm−2, and outstanding durability which could maintain over 12 h. The design strategy and controllable synthesis of the hierarchical heterostructure bifunctional electrocatalyst will be beneficial for efficient overall water splitting.