Ru-Modified Cobalt Phosphide Nanoparticles on N-Doped Carbon Nanofibers for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media

Transition bimetallic phosphides (TMPs) are a prospective catalytic material for HER. In this paper, inexpensive red phosphorus (P4) was doped into the homogeneous solution as a phosphorus source, and self-supported N-doped carbon nanofibers loaded with Ru-modified cobalt phosphide nanoparticles catalysts (Ru@Co2P/CNFs) were successfully prepared by electrostatic spinning technique combined with high temperature carbonization. The Ru@Co2P phosphide nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on the surface of carbon fibers with three-dimensional network structure. Due to the synergistic effect between Ru and Co2P systems, the prepared Ru@Co2P/CNFs catalysts have excellent hydrogen evolution reaction activity and stability in alkaline solutions with N-doped conducting carbon matrix and large specific surface area active sites, only need an overpotential of only 48 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, which is better than that of the noble metal Pt/C (52 mV). In addition, the Ru@Co2P nanoparticles were encapsulated by a carbon layer to prevent the catalyst from corrosion during long-term operation, and their HER performance did not change significantly after 40 h of operation, showing long-lasting stability. This research provide a new idea for exploring new self-supported network structured phosphide catalysts with low cost and high activity.