Ni2P–CoP hybrid nanosheet arrays supported on carbon cloth as an efficient flexible cathode for hydrogen evolution

Abstract

Here we report a new type of Ni₂P–CoP hybrid nanosheet array (HNSAs) supported on carbon cloth (CC) (Ni₂P–CoP HNSAs/CC) as an efficient flexible cathode for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This synthesized Ni₂P–CoP HNSAs/CC shows excellent electrocatalytic performance for the HER in both acid and alkaline solutions compared with Ni₂P/CC and CoP/CC cathodes that have been considered to be good candidates for the HER. The significantly improved electrocatalytic performance of Ni₂P–CoP HNSAs/CC can be attributed to the special surface effects of hybrid nanosheet arrays and synergistic effects between Ni₂P and CoP. The Ni₂P–CoP HNSAs/CC shows excellent flexibility and exhibits unchangeable electrochemical performance under the various distorted states, such as bending and twisting sates.