3D Graphene Aerogels Decorated with Cobalt Phosphide Nanoparticles as Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The development of non‐precious‐metal hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts with high activity and excellent durability in acidic media is of significant importance for renewable energy research. We report a novel electrocatalyst based on a three‐dimensional (3D) graphene aerogel decorated with cobalt phosphide nanoparticles (CoP/GA). The material has a unique hierarchical porous structure with CoP nanoparticles encapsulated uniformly within the graphene sheets. The optimized catalyst shows superior activity, with an overpotential of only 121 mV at 10 mA cm−2, a Tafel slope of 50 mV dec−1, and an exchange current density of 0.105 mA cm−2, and it maintains its catalytic activity for at least 13 h. More importantly, this work provides a versatile way for the rational design and fabrication of 3D graphene‐based multifunctional composite materials.