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The alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) is considered to be a promising approach for large-scale industrial hydrogen production. Nevertheless, it is severely hampered by the inability to operate tolerable HER catalysts consistently under low overpotentials at ampere-level current densities. Here, we develop a universal ligand-exchange (MOF-on-MOF) modulation strategy to synthesize ultrafine Fe 2 P and Co 2 P nanoparticles, which are well anchored on N and P dual-doped carbon porous nanosheets (Fe 2 P-Co 2 P/NPC). In addition, benefiting from the downshift of the d-band center and the interfacial Co-P-Fe bridging, the electron-rich P site is triggered, which induces the redistribution of electron density and the swapping of active centers, lowering the energy barrier of the HER. As a result, the Fe 2 P-Co 2 P/NPC catalyst only requires a low overpotential of 175 mV to achieve a current density of 1000 mA cm –2. The solar-driven water electrolysis system presents a record-setting and stable solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 20. 36%. Crucially, the catalyst could stably operate at 1000 mA cm –2 over 1000 h in a practical AEMWE at an estimated cost of US0. 79 per kilogram of H 2, which achieves the target (US2 per kg of H 2) set by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Zhang et al. (Mon,) studied this question.