Free-Standing P-Doped NiSe<sub>2</sub>/MoSe<sub>2</sub> Catalyst for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution in Acidic and Alkaline Media
Min Zhu, Qing Yan, Yanqin Xue, Yongde Yan, Kai Zhu, Ke Ye, Jun Yan, Dianxue Cao, Haijiao Xie, Guiling Wang
Abstract
Developing earth-abundant electrocatalysts with high activity and good durability for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in both acidic and alkaline media toward alkaline conditions is crucial for achieving a sustainable hydrogen energy economy. Herein, we develop P-doped bimetallic NiSe2–MoSe2 with optimum Ni/Mo proportions (1-1) grown on carbon cloth (P-NiSe2/MoSe2(1-1)@CC) by a facile, low-cost hydrothermal ion exchange reaction (P replaces partial Se ion). Remarkably, the free-standing P-NiSe2/MoSe2(1-1)@CC catalyst exhibits good HER activity with the overpotential of 93/175 mV at 10 mA cm–2 and a small Tafel slope of 52/78 mV dec–1 in acidic/alkaline solution. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations prove the P-NiSe2/MoSe2(1-1)-Ni has a small |ΔGH*| value of 0.17 eV, and the density of electronic states is enhanced around the Fermi level. The experimental and theoretical results reveal P doping has a positive contribution for the better HER activity of P-NiSe2/MoSe2(1-1)@CC.