Self-supported efficient hydrogen evolution catalysts with a core–shell structure designed via phase separation

Abstract

The development of cost-effective, high-performance and flexible electrocatalysts for hydrogen production is of scientific and technological importance. Catalysts with a core–shell structure for water dissociation have been extensively investigated. However, most of them are nanoparticles and thus their catalytic properties are inevitably limited by the use of binders in practice. Herein, this work reports a physical-metallurgy-based structural design strategy to develop a self-supported and unique nanoporous structure with core–shell-like ligaments, i.e., a Cu core surrounded by a NiO shell, formed on a metallic glass (MG) substrate. These newly developed noble metal-free catalysts exhibit outstanding HER performance; the overpotential reaches 67 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻², accompanied by a low Tafel slope of 40 mV dec⁻¹ and good durability. More importantly, the current strategy could be readily applied to fabricate other nanoporous metals, which opens a new space for designing advanced catalysts as cost-effective electrode materials.