Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (11): 1876-1902.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(21)63855-X

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Strategies on improving the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution performances of metal phosphides

Wenli Yua, Yuxiao Gaoa, Zhi Chena, Ying Zhaoa, Zexing Wua,*(), Lei Wanga,b,#()   

  1. aState Key Laboratory Base of Eco-chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao 266042, Shandong, China
    bShandong Engineering Research Center for Marine Environment Corrosion and Safety Protection, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, Shandong, China
  • Received:2021-02-27 Revised:2021-02-27 Accepted:2021-05-21 Online:2021-11-18 Published:2021-06-08
  • Contact: Zexing Wu,Lei Wang
  • About author:#Tel/Fax: +86-532-84022016; E-mail: inor-chemwl@126.com
    *Tel/Fax: +86-532-84022016; E-mail: splswzx@qust.edu.cn;
    Lei Wang (College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology) was invited as a young member of 6th Editorial Board (2020‒2024) of Chin. J Catal. in 2020. Professor Lei Wang received his Ph.D degree in 2006 from Jilin University. Afterward, he joined the faculty of Qingdao University of Science and Technology, where he was the deputy director of Key Laboratory of Eco‐Chemical Engineering, and he is now the director of College of Environment and Safety Engineering. From 2008 to 2010, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University. His research interests currently focus on the design and synthesis of porous MOFs materials and functional inorganic materials, as well as their applications in gas separation, photocatalysis, lithium‐ion battery, etc. Professor Lei Wang has published more than 200 papers, including Nat. Commun., Adv. Energy Mater., Adv. Funct. Mater., etc.
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(22002068);National Natural Science Foundation of China(51772162);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52072197);Youth Innovation and Technology Foundation of Shandong Higher Education Institutions, China(2019KJC004);Outstanding Youth Foundation of Shandong Province, China(ZR2019JQ14);Taishan Scholar Young Talent Program(tsqn201909114);Major Scientific and Technological Innovation Project(2019JZZY020405);Major Basic Research Program of Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(ZR2020ZD09);Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China(ZR2019BB002);Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China(ZR2018BB031)

Abstract:

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 bi- or polymetallic phosphides), and highlight the crucial issues and challenges of future development.

Key words: Metal phosphides, Electrocatalytic reaction, Hydrogen evolution reaction, Synthesis strategies, Hydrogen energy