Atomic-level structural engineering of La-doped CoMoP composite for enhanced overall water splitting

Abstract

A series of La-doped CoMoP composites were fabricated through an in-situ phosphorization strategy with La–CoMo layered double hydroxide (LDH) as precursors. The homogenous dispersion of metal ions within the LDH structure facilitated the creation of a uniformly atomic-level La-doped CoMoP composite. Among these, the 5 % La-doped CoMoP exhibited the best performance, requiring only 41 mV overpotential for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 303 mV for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) to reach a current density of 10 mA cm⁻². For overall water splitting, it achieved a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² at a cell voltage of just 1.61 V and maintained a stable performance over 24 h. The modulation effect of rare-earth elements, combined with the synergistic interactions among transition metal ions, contributes to its excellent bifunctional electrocatalytic performance.