Edge-selectively phosphorus-doped few-layer graphene as an efficient metal-free electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

The development of efficient, stable and cost-effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the key for water splitting. Carbon-based nanomaterials have found significant applications as metal-free OER electrocatalysts. In this study, for the first time, edge-selectively phosphorus-doped graphene (G–P) was synthesised for OER electrocatalysts. The G–P catalyst reached a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² at a small overpotential of 330 mV for the OER with a Tafel slope as low as 62 mV dec⁻¹, which is superior to most of the carbon-based electrocatalysts reported to date.