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Developing earth-rich and high-efficiency nonprecious metal catalysts is critical but extremely challenging for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, a simple room-temperature sulfuration method was developed for in situ synthesis of walnut kernel-like iron-cobalt-nickel sulfide nanosheets on nickel foam (FeCoNiS x /NF). The unique nanosheets exposed abundant active sites and provided large electrochemically active surface area. The as-built FeCoNiS x /NF exhibited high OER performances with the small overpotentials of 231 and 268 mV to afford 10 and 50 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH, respectively, coupled with a small Tafel slope of 55 mV dec−1. Furthermore, the FeCoNiS x /NF acted as the anode towards overall water electrolysis with acceptable results, where commercial Pt/C dropped on the NF worked as the cathode. This study provides some valuable insights for rational construction of nonprecious electrocatalysts in electrochemical energy technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The P-Co 2 MnO 4 /NF was synthesized by hydrothermal treatment, oxidation and P-doping. • The unique straw-like nanoneedle arrays provided large ECSA and rich active sites. • P-doping had the greatly improved HER activities. • The P-Co 2 MnO 4 /NF exhibited excellent HER activities in wide pH range of electrolytes. Developing high-performance and cut-price non-noble-metal electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is desirable yet challenging. Herein, straw-like phosphorus-doped Co 2 MnO 4 nanoneedle arrays supported on nickel foam (P-Co 2 MnO 4 /NF) were prepared by successive hydrothermal treatment, oxidation and P doping for high-efficiency HER. Benefiting from the unique needle-like arrays and compositions advantages, P-Co 2 MnO 4 /NF exhibited excellent HER activities with the overpotentials of 33, 43 and 102 mV to afford a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline, acidic and neutral media, respectively, coupled with the long-term electrochemical stability. This work affords an effective avenue for preparation of cost-effectiveness, high-efficiency and wide-pH HER catalysts for electrochemical energy technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]