Nanocomposite of Graphene–Phosphorene Structures with Cobalt Phosphide as an Effective Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution in Acidic Medium

Abstract

Materials containing cobalt phosphide nanoparticles are among the most promising electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction in terms of compromise between activity, cost, and durability. A simple and effective approach to fabricating a nanocomposite of graphene–phosphorene structures decorated with CoP nanoparticles 2–5 nm in size is proposed. The nanocomposite was fabricated by the electrochemical exfoliation of black phosphorus followed by the solvothermal synthesis. The synthesis was carried out in the presence of few-layer graphene structures doped with nitrogen atoms in the solution containing Co²⁺ ions. The electrocatalyst exhibited high activity and stability towards hydrogen evolution reaction in the acidic medium. In order to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm^–2, an overpotential of ~220 mV was required, and the Tafel slope was ~63 mV dec^–1. It is suggested that this result is due to both the synergistic effect of the interaction between graphene and phosphorene structures and the electrocatalytic activity of CoP nanoparticles, which are located at the edges of phosphorene structures.