Se-Doped CoP Nanoneedle Arrays Grown on Carbon Cloth for an Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Exploring highly active catalysts with low-price materials is urgently needed for water-splitting electrolysis. Herein, selenium-doped CoP nanoneedles construct the grass-like structure, and the nanoneedles are vertically anchored on carbon cloth (Se–CoP/CC). Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy reveal the nanoneedle array architecture of S–CoP, which is convenient for the adsorption of molecules on active centers. The small diameter of nanoneedles is beneficial for rapid charge transfer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows the electronic structure regulation of Se incorporation, which is beneficial for the optimized catalysis activity. Electrochemical tests show that Se dopants result in more catalysis sites and faster kinetics. Endowed with these advantages, good catalytic performance of the prepared sample for hydrogen evolution is disclosed, with low overpotentials of 47 mV at 10 mA cm–2and 145 mV at 100 mA cm–2in alkaline solution. This work highlights a promising way to improve the performance of transition-metal-based catalysts with non-metal-doping engineering toward water electrolysis application.