MOF-derived carbon-containing Fe doped porous CoP nanosheets towards hydrogen evolution reaction and hydrodesulfurization.

In order to explore the effect of Fe doped CoP nanosheets on both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and hydrodesulfurization (HDS), FeCoP/C nanosheets have been successfully synthesized by the solvothermal process with Fe doped ZIF-67/C for the growth of FeCo-hydroxides nanosheets, as well as a following low-temperature phosphorization process. The performance evaluation results show that the FeCoP/C nanosheet exhibits an excellent acidic HER performance and an ordinary HDS performance compared to CoP/C and FeP/C catalysts. Experimental characterization and density functional theory results show that the high HER activity of the FeCoP/C nanosheet can be attributed to the fact that the nanosheet structure facilitates the exposure of active sites and the doped Fe atoms make CoP have a suitable hydrogen adsorption energy, while the ordinary HDS activity of the FeCoP/C nanosheet can be attributed to the fact that the doped Fe atoms can inhibit the cleavage of C–S bonds by CoP. [Display omitted] • FeCoP/C nanosheet is synthesized by hydrothermal and phosphating treatment of ZIF-67. • FeCoP/C nanosheet exhibits an excellent acidic HER and ordinary HDS performance. • FeCoP/C nanosheet has a high ECSA and suitable hydrogen adsorption energy. • The ordinary HDS performance is due to the normal activation energy for the C–S bond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]