Highly active electrocatalysis of the hydrogen evolution reaction by cobalt phosphide nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of cobalt phosphide, CoP, have been prepared and evaluated as electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under strongly acidic conditions (0.50 M H₂SO₄, pH 0.3). Uniform, multi-faceted CoP nanoparticles were synthesized by reacting Co nanoparticles with trioctylphosphine. Electrodes comprised of CoP nanoparticles on a Ti support (2 mg cm^-2 mass loading) produced a cathodic current density of 20 mA cm^-2 at an overpotential of -85 mV. The CoP/Ti electrodes were stable over 24 h of sustained hydrogen production in 0.50 M H ₂SO₄. The activity was essentially unchanged after 400 cyclic voltammetric sweeps, suggesting long-term viability under operating conditions. CoP is therefore amongst the most active, acid-stable, earth-abundant HER electrocatalysts reported to date. One step closer to Pt: Nanoparticles of cobalt phosphide (CoP) catalyze the hydrogen evolution reaction with high activity and stability under strongly acidic conditions. Its electrocatalytic performance places CoP amongst the best Earth-abundant alternatives to platinum.