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Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering >> 2018, Volume 12, Issue 3 doi: 10.1007/s11705-018-1732-9
Self-supported transition metal phosphide based electrodes as high-efficient water splitting cathodes
Abstract
Electrolytic water splitting has been considered as a promising technology to produce highly pure H2 by using electrical power produced from wind, solar energy or other fitful renewable energy resources. Combining novel self-supporting structure and high-performance transition metal phosphides (TMP) shows substantial promise for practical application in water splitting. In this review, we try to provide a comprehensive analysis of the design and fabrication of various self-supported TMP electrodes for hydrogen evolution reaction, which are divided into three categories: catalysts growing on carbon-based substrates, catalysts growing on metal-based substrates and freestanding catalyst films. The material structures together with catalytic performances of self-supported electrodes are presented and discussed. We also show the specific strategies to further improve the catalytic performance by elemental doping or incorporation of nanocarbons. The simple and one-step methods to fabricate self-supported TMP electrodes are also highlighted. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for self-supported TMP electrodes in water splitting application are briefly discussed.
Keywords
transition metal phosphide ; self-supported electrode ; electrocatalysis ; hydrogen evolution reaction
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