Co₂P Nanoparticles/N-Doped Carbon Composites as Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers

Developing efficient, stable, and cost-effective catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for advancing green hydrogen production. Highly active cobalt phosphides are promising candidates, but their further development has been hindered by poor electron transfer efficiency and instability. In this study, a straightforward approach was employed to prepare Co2P nanoparticles wrapped with nitrogen-doped carbon (Co2P@NdC) to enhance the HER performance. The performance of Co2P@NdC was evaluated in a proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer. Co2P@NdC exhibited a significant improvement in HER efficiency over Co2P nanoparticles, achieving a constant current of 0.44 A/cm2 at 2.0 V.