Trifunctional electrocatalysts based on feather-like NiCoP 3D architecture for hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, and urea oxidation reactions

Finding efficient and versatile catalysts that can both produce clean energy H2 and treat wastewater is an important matter to solve energy shortages and wastewater pollution. Herein, a feather-like NiCoP supported on NF was synthesized via the two-step hydrothermal-phosphorization process. NiCoP/NF requires only overpotentials of 44 and 203 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2 for HER and OER in 1 M KOH, respectively. Besides, NiCoP/NF requires only 1.13 V (vs RHE) to achieve 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH containing 0.33 M urea. DFT calculation shows that NiCoP exhibits enhanced DOS in the Fermi level attachment, which promotes charge transfer. Subsequently, the trifunctional NiCoP/NF, for overall water splitting, requires a lower potential of 1.48 V to gain 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH. For urea electrolysis, NiCoP/NF requires just 1.36 V to drive 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH with 0.33 M urea. This work provides extraordinary insights into electrolytic hydrogen production and wastewater treatment through simple preparative methods. The performance of the prepared catalyst is at a high level in non-noble metal.