Templated synthesis of transition metal phosphide electrocatalysts for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions

Transition metal phosphides(TMPs)have been regarded as alternative hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER)catalysts owing to their comparable activity to those of noble metal-based catalysts.TMPs have been produced in various morphologies,including hollow and porous nanostructures,which are features deemed desirable for electrocatalytic materials.Templated synthesis routes are often responsible for such morphologies.This paper reviews the latest advances and existing challenges in the synthesis of TMP-based OER and HER catalysts through templated methods.A comprehensive review of the structure-property-performance of TMP-based HER and OER catalysts prepared using different templates is presented.The discussion proceeds according to application,first by HER and further divided among the types of templates used-from hard templates,sacrificial templates,and soft templates to the emerging dynamic hydrogen bubble template.OER catalysts are then reviewed and grouped according to their morphology.Finally,prospective research directions for the synthesis of hollow and porous TMP-based catalysts,such as improvements on both activity and stability of TMPs,design of environmentally benign templates and processes,and analysis of the reaction mechanism through advanced material characterization techniques and theoretical calculations,are suggested.

Recent advances in transition metal phosphide materials:Synthesis and applications in supercapacitors

Supercapacitors(SCs)are considered promising energy storge systems because of their outstanding power density,fast charge and discharge rate and long-term cycling stability.The exploitation of cheap and efficient electrode materials is the key to improve the performance of supercapacitors.As the battery-type materials,transition metal phosphides(TMPs)possess high theoretical specific capacity,good electrical conductivity and superior structural stability,which have been extensively studied to be electrode materials for supercapacitors.In this review,we summarize the up-to-date progress on TMPs materials from diversified synthetic methods,diverse nanostructures and several prominent TMPs and their composites in application of supercapacitors.In the end,we also propose the remaining challenges toward the rational discovery and synthesis of high-performance TMP electrodes materials for energy storage.

Integration of morphology and electronic structure modulation on cobalt phosphide nanosheets to boost photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from ammonia borane hydrolysis

The controllable and safe hydrogen storage technologies are widely recognized as the main bottleneck for the accomplishment of sustainable hydrogen energy.Ammonia borane(AB)has regarded as a competitive candidate for chemical hydrogen storage.However,developing efficient yet high-performance catalysts towards hydrogen evolution from AB hydrolysis remains an enormous challenge.Herein,cobalt phosphide nanosheets are synthesized by a facile salt-assisted along with low-temperature phosphidation strategy for simultaneously modulating its morphology and electronic structure,and function as hydrogen evolution photocatalysts.Impressively,the Co_(2)P nanosheets display extraordinary performance with a record high turnover frequency of 44.9 min^(-1),outperforming most of the noble-metal-free catalysts reported to date.This remarkable performance is attributed to its desired nanosheets structure,featuring with high specific surface area,abundant exposed active sites,and short charge diffusion paths.Our findings provide a novel strategy for regulating metal phosphides with desired phase structure and morphology for energy-related applications and beyond.

Stability and melting behavior of boron phosphide under high pressure

Boron phosphide(BP)has gained significant research attention due to its unique photoelectric and mechanical properties.In this work,we investigated the stability of BP under high pressure using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope.The phase diagram of BP was explored in both B-rich and P-rich environments,revealing crucial insight into its behavior at 5.0 GPa.Additionally,we measured the melting curve of BP from 8.0 GPa to 15.0 GPa.Our findings indicate that the stability of BP under high pressure is improved within B-rich and P-rich environments.Furthermore,we report a remarkable observation of melting curve frustration at 10.0 GPa.This study will enhance our understanding of stability of BP under high pressure,shedding light on its potential application in semiconductor,thermal,and light-transmitting devices.

A general synthetic strategy for N, P co-doped graphene supported metal-rich noble metal phosphides for hydrogen generation

The exploitation of electrocatalysts with high activity and durability for HER is desirable for future energy systems,but it is still a challenge.NMPs have attracted increasing attentions,but the preparation process often needs toxic regents or dangerous reaction conditions.Herein,we develop a general green method to fabricate metal-rich NMPs anchored on NPG through pyrolyzing DNA cross-linked complexes.The obtained Ru_(2) P-NPG exhibits an ultrasmall overpotential of 7 mV at 10 mA cm^(2) and ultralow Tafel slope of 33 mV dec^(-1) in 1.0 mol L?1 KOH,even better than that of commercial Pt/C.In addition,Ru 2 P-NPG also shows low overpotentials of 29 and 78 mV in 0.5 mol L^(-1) H_(2)SO_(4) and 1.0 mol L^(-1) PBS,respectively.The superior activity can be attributed to the ultrafine dispersion of Ru 2 P nanoparticles for more accessible sites,more defects formed for abundant active sites,the two-dimensional plane structure for accelerated electron transfer and mass transport,as well as the regulation of electron distribution of the catalyst.Moreover,the synthetic method can also be applied to prepare other metal-rich noble metal phosphides(Pd_(3)P-NPG and Rh_(2)P-NPG),which also exhibits high activity for HER.This work provides an effective strategy for designing NMP-based electrocatalysts.

MOF-Derived Iron-Cobalt Phosphide Nanoframe as Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Overall Water Splitting

Transition metal phosphides(TMPs)have emerged as an alternative to precious metals as efficient and low-cost catalysts for water electrolysis.Elemental doping and morphology control are effective approaches to further improve the performance of TMPs.Herein,Fe-doped CoP nanoframes(Fe-CoP NFs)with specific open cage configuration were designed and synthesized.The unique nano-framework structured Fe-CoP material shows overpotentials of only 255 and 122 mV at 10 mA cm^(−2)for oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and hydrogen evolution reaction(HER),respectively,overwhelming most transition metal phosphides.For overall water splitting,the cell voltage is 1.65 V for Fe-CoP NFs at a current density of 10 mA cm^(−2),much superior to what is observed for the classical nanocubic structures.Fe-CoP NFs show no activity degradation up to 100 h which contrasts sharply with the rapidly decaying performance of noble metal catalyst reference.The superior electrocatalytic performance of Fe-CoP NFs due to abundant accessible active sites,reduced kinetic energy barrier,and preferable*O-containing intermediate adsorption is demonstrated through experimental observations and theoretical calculations.Our findings could provide a potential method for the preparation of multifunctional material with hollow structures and offer more hopeful prospects for obtaining efficient earth-abundant catalysts for water splitting.

A Practical Backside Technology for Indium Phosphide MMICs

A wet etching process for backside via holes suitable for use on InP MMICs technologies is developed for indium phosphide substrate.PMMA is used to mount InP wafer onto glass carrier.Spattered Ta film is utilized as etch mask.HCl+H 3PO 4 solution realised a etch until a depth of 100μm.It is demonstrated that the wet etching backside process is controllable with large latitudes.

Effect of nickel phosphide nanoparticles crystallization on hydrogen evolution reaction catalytic performance

In order to investigate the effect of nickel phosphide nanoparticles’ （Ni-P NPs） crystallization on hydrogen evolution reaction （HER） catalytic performance, amorphous Ni-P NPs and crystalline Ni12P5 were synthesized by a simple and low-cost autocatalytic reduction method and heat treatment process. The result of electrochemical tests shows that crystalline Ni12P5 has much higher HER catalytic activity than the amorphous one. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that Ni？P bond formed during crystallization, making Ni positively charged and P negatively charged. This charged nature of Ni12P5 is similar to [NiFe] hydrogenase and its analogous, which make the removal of H2 less energy-cost.

Deoxygenation of methyl laurate to hydrocarbons on silica-supported Ni-Mo phosphides: Effect of calcination temperatures of precursor

SiO2-supported Ni-Mo bimetallic phosphides were prepared by temperature-programmed reduction （TPR） method from the phosphate precur- sors calcined at different temperatures. Their properties were characterized by means of ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy （UV-Vis DRS）, H2 temperature-programmed reduction （H2-TPR）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, CO chemisorption, H2 and NH3 temperature-programmed desorptions （H2-TPD and NH3-TPD）. Their catalytic performances for the deoxygena- tion of methyl laurate were tested in a fixed-bed reactor. When the precursors were calcined at 400 and 500 ℃, respectively, NiMoP2 phase could be formed apart from Ni2P and MoP phases in the prepared C400 and C500 catalysts. However, when the precursors were calcined at 600, 700 and 800 ℃, respectively, only Ni2P and MoP phases could be detected in the prepared C600, C700 and C800 catalysts. Also, in C400, C500 and C600 catalysts, Mo atoms were found to be entered in the lattice of Ni2P phase, but the entering extent became less with the increase of calcination temperature. As the calcination temperature of the precursor increased, the interaction between Ni and Mo in the prepared catalysts decreased, and the phosphide crystallite size tended to increase, subsequently leading to the decrease in the surface metal site density and the acid amount. C600 catalyst showed the highest activity among the tested ones for the deoxygenation of methyl laurate. As the calcination temperature of the precursor increased, the selectivity to C12 hydrocarbons decreased while the selectivity to C11 hydrocarbons tended to increase. This can be mainly attributed to the decreased Ni-Mo interaction and the increased phosphide particle size. In sum, the structure and performance of Ni-Mo bimetallic phosphide catalyst can be tuned by the calcination temperature of precursor.

Preparation, Characterization, Hydrodesulfurization and Hydrodenitrogenation Activities of Alumina-supported Tungsten Phosphide Catalysts

Two series of WP/Al2O3 catalyst precursors with WP mass loading in the range 18.5%—37.1% were prepared using the impregnation method and mixing method, respectively, and the catalysts were then obtained by temperature-programmed reduction of supported tungsten phosphate (precursor of WP/Al2O3 catatlysts) in H2 at 650℃ for 4h. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, BET, TG/DTA , XPS and 31P MAS-NMR. The activities of these catalysts were tested in the hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) of pyridine and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene at 340℃ and 3.0MPa. The results showed that owing to the stronger interaction of the support with the active species, the precursor of WP/Al2O3 catalyst was more difficultly phosphided and a greater amount of W spe- cies was in a high valence state W6+ on the surface of the catalyst prepared by the impregnation method than that by the mixing method. 31P MAS-NMR results indicated that 31P shift from 85% H3PO4 of 2.55×10-4 for WP and 2.57 ×10-4 for WP/γ-Al2O3 catalysts prepared by mixing method. Such WP/Al2O3 catalysts showed higher HDN activi- ties and lower HDS activities than those prepared by the impregnation method under the same loading of WP. WP/γ-Al2O3 catalysts with weak interaction between support and active species were favorable for HDN reaction while the WP/γ-Al2O3 catalysts with strong interaction were favorable for HDS reaction.

Toward Flexible and Wearable Embroidered Supercapacitors from Cobalt Phosphides-Decorated Conductive Fibers

Wearable supercapacitors(SCs)are gaining prominence as portable energy storage devices.To develop high-performance wearable SCs,the significant relationship among material,structure,and performance inspired us with a delicate design of the highly wearable embroidered supercapacitors made from the conductive fibers composited.By rendering the conductive interdigitally patterned embroidery as both the current collector and skeleton for the SCs,the novel pseudocapacitive material cobalt phosphides were then successfully electrodeposited,forming the first flexible and wearable in-plane embroidery SCs.The electrochemical measurements manifested that the highest specific capacitance was nearly 156.6 mF cm?2(65.72 F g?1)at the current density of 0.6 mA cm?2(0.25 A g?1),with a high energy density of 0.013 mWh cm?2(5.55 Wh kg?1)at a power density of 0.24 mW cm?2(100 W kg?1).As a demonstration,a monogrammed pattern was ingeniously designed and embroidered on the laboratory gown as the wearable in-plane SCs,which showed both decent electrochemical performance and excellent flexibility.

Size-dependent catalytic activity of cobalt phosphides for hydrogen evolution reaction

Transition metal phosphides are a class of promising electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) to replace noble metals.In this work,we for the first time synthesize carbon supported CoP nanoparticles with the average particle sizes from 3.3 to 9.2 nm,via a solvothermal process followed by low-temperature topological phosphorization,and the size-dependent HER activity of the CoP is investigated by virtue of TEM,XRD,XPS and the electrochemical techniques.It is discovered that the 9.2nm-CoP particles possess high intrinsic HER catalytic activity as compared to the 3.3nm-CoP,although the smaller one displays a high mass activity due to the large surface area.Detailed studies manifest that the small CoP particles suffer from serious oxidation once exposing to air.In contrast,most cobalt remains in the quasi-metallic state in the relatively large CoP particles,which is beneficial for the desorption of Hads,the rate determining step of the HER process over CoP surface.In addition,the low charge transfer resistance across the liquid/solid interfaces also contributes to the excellent HER activity of the relatively large CoP particles.

Recent developments in metal phosphide and sulfide electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction

Oxygen evolution reaction(OER),as an important half‐reaction involved in water splitting,has been intensely studied since the last century.Transition metal phosphide and sulfide‐based compounds have attracted increasing attention as active OER catalysts due to their excellent physical and chemical characters,and massive efforts have been devoted to improving the phosphide and sulfide‐based materials with better activity and stability in recent years.In this review,the recent progress on phosphide and sulfide‐based OER electrocatalysts in terms of chemical properties,synthetic methodologies,catalytic performances evaluation and improvement strategy is reviewed.The most accepted reaction pathways as well as the thermodynamics and electrochemistry of the OER are firstly introduced in brief,followed by a summary of the recent research and optimization strategy of phosphide and sulfide‐based OER electrocatalysts.Finally,some mechanistic studies of the active phase of phosphide and sulfide‐based compounds are discussed to give insight into the nature of active catalytic sites.It is expected to indicate guidance for further improving the performances of phosphide and sulfide‐based OER electrocatalysts.

Recent advances of metal phosphides for Li-S chemistry

Li-S batteries have been considered as one of advanced next-generation energy storage systems owing to their remarkable theoretical capacity(1672 m Ah g^(-1))and high energy density(2600 Wh kg^(-1)).However,critical issues,mainly pertaining to lithium polysulfide shuttle and slow sulfur reaction kinetics,have posed a fatal threat to the electrochemical performances of Li-S batteries.The situation is even worse for high sulfur-loaded and flexible cathodes,which are the essential components for practical Li-S batteries.In response,the use of metal compounds as electrocatalysts in Li-S systems have been confirmed as an effective strategy to date.Particularly,recent years have witnessed many progresses in phosphidesoptimized Li-S chemistry.This has been motivated by the superior electron conductivity and high electrocatalytic activity of phosphides.In this tutorial review,we offer a systematic summary of active metal phosphides as promoters for Li-S chemistry,aiming at helping to understanding the working mechanism of phosphide electrocatalysts and guiding the construction of advanced Li-S batteries.

Metal-organic framework-derived phosphide nanomaterials for electrochemical applications

Because of features,such as adjustable structures,high porosity,and high crystallinity,metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)deservedly have received considerable attention.Nevertheless,there is still room for improvements in the electrical conductivity and chemical stability of some MOFs,because of which they cannot be utilized as electrode materials.Fortunately,MOF derivatives have received widespread attention in recent years,especially phosphide materials,which are widely used in practical applications because of their outstanding conductivity,excellent specific surface area,and standout charge mobility.In this review,the latest developments of MOF-derived phosphides in electrocatalysis related to energy,including the excellent performance in terms of electrochemical energy storage and ingenious strategies,and diversified synthetic approaches are emphasized and summarized.Additionally,the arduous task and feasible proposals of MOF-derived phosphides are also discussed.

Strategies on improving the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution performances of metal phosphides

Among the sustainable energy sources,hydrogen is the one most promising for alleviating the pollution issues related to the usage of conventional fuels,as it can be produced in an efficient and eco-friendly way via electrocatalytic water splitting.The hydrogen evolution reaction(HER,a half-reaction of water splitting)plays a pivotal role in decreasing the price and increasing the catalytic efficiency of hydrogen production and is efficiently promoted by metal phosphides in different electrolytes.Herein,we summarize the recent advances in the development of metal phosphides as HER electrocatalysts,focus on their synthesis(post-treatment,in situ generation,and electrodeposition methods)and the enhancement of their electrocatalytic activity(via elemental doping,interface and vacancy engineering,construction of specific supports and nanostructures,and the design of bior polymetallic phosphides),and highlight the crucial issues and challenges of future development.

Effect of heat-treatment on the surface properties of gallium phosphide nanosolids by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectra of gallium phosphide （GAP） nanosolids （unheated and heat-treated at 598 and 723 K, respectively） were investigated. It was observed that both the longitudinal optical mode （LO） and the transverse optical mode （TO） displayed an asymmetry on the low-wavenumber side. The scattering bands were fitted to a sum of four Lorentzians which were assigned to the LO mode, surface phonon mode, TO mode, and a combination of Ga-O-P symmetric bending and sum band formed from the X-point TA ＋ LA phonons, respectively. Analysis of the characteristic of surface phonon mode revealed that the surface phonon peak of the GaP nanosolids could be confirmed. In the infrared spectrum of the GaP nanoparticles, we observed the bands on account of symmetric stretching and bending of PO2, as well as stretching of Ga-O The Raman scattering intensity arising from the Ga-O-P linkages increased as increasing the heat-treatment temperature.

Decorating cobalt phosphide and rhodium on reduced graphene oxide for high-efficiency hydrogen evolution reaction

Electrochemical reduction of water to hydrogen holds great promise for clean energy,while its widespread application relies on the development of efficient catalysts with large surface area,abundant exposed active sites and superior electron conductivity.Herein,we report a facile strategy to configure an electrocatalyst composed of cobalt phosphide and rhodium uniformly anchored on reduced graphene oxide for hydrogen generation.The hybrids effectively integrate the exposed active sites,electron conductivity and synergistic effect of the catalyst.Electrochemical tests exhibit that the catalyst shows superior hydrogen evolution reaction catalytic activity and stability,with a small Tafel slope of 43 m V dec-1.Overpotentials as low as 29 and 72 mV are required to achieve current densities of 2 and 10 mA cm-2in 0.5M H2SO4,respectively.The hybrid constitution with highly active sites on conductive substrate is a new strategy to synthesize extremely efficient electrocatalysts.Especially,the efficient synergistic effect among cobalt phosphide,rhodium and reduced graphene oxide provides a novel approach for configuring electrocatalysts with high electron efficiency.

Metal-organic frameworks derived transition metal phosphides for electrocatalytic water splitting

It is critical to synthesize high-efficiency electrocatalysts to boost the performance of water splitting to meet the requirements of industrial applications. Metal-organic frameworks(MOFs) can function as ideal molecular platforms for the design of highly reactive transition metal phosphides(TMPs), a kind of candidates for high-efficiently electrocatalytic water splitting. The intrinsic activity of the electrocatalysts can be greatly improved via modulating the electronic structure of the catalytic center through the MOF precursors/templates. Moreover, the carbon layer converted in-situ by the organic ligands can not only protect the TMPs from being degraded in the harsh electrochemical environments, but also avoid agglomeration of the catalysts, thereby promoting their activities and stabilities. Furthermore,heteroatom-containing ligands can incorporate N, S or P, etc. atoms into the carbon matrixes after conversion, regulating the coordination microenvironments of the active centers as well as their electronic structures. In this review, we first summarized the latest developments in MOF-derived TMPs by the unique advantages in metal, organic ligand, and morphology regulations for electrocatalytic water splitting. Secondly, we concluded the critical scientific issues currently facing for designing state-of-the-art TMP-based electrocatalysts. Finally, we presented an outlook on this research area, encompassing electrocatalyst construction, catalytic mechanism research, etc.

Large-scale synthesis of noble-metal-free phosphide/CdS composite photocatalysts for enhanced H_2 evolution under visible light irradiation

Photocatalytic H2evolution under visible light irradiation is an ideal process for solving energy shortage.The low cost of photocatalysts and high efficiency of hydrogen evolution are the two key factors to realize the industrialization of the process.The substitution of a noble‐metal cocatalyst with a non‐noble‐metal catalyst can significantly reduce the cost of the photocatalyst.The largescale synthesis and assembly of semiconductors and non‐noble‐metal cocatalysts to form photocatalysts through a simple method can further decrease the cost of photocatalysis.Here,we report a large‐scale and low‐cost coprecipitation method to form phosphide/CdS photocatalysts to realize photocatalytic H2evolution.CoP and MoP cocatalysts significantly enhanced the photocatalytic production of hydrogen.The optimal H2production rates on CoP/CdS and MoP/CdS were140and78μmol/h,which were7.0and4.0times higher than those obtained with bare CdS,respectively,and2.0times and1.1times higher than those obtained with1.0%Pt/CdS,respectively.This work provides a practical method for the large‐scale preparation of low‐cost photocatalysts.