Electron density modulation of NiCo2S4 nanowires by nitrogen incorporation for highly efficient hydrogen evolution catalysis

Yishang Wu, Xiaojing Liu, Dongdong Han, Xianyin Song, Lei Shi, Yao Song, Shuwen Niu, Yufang Xie, Jinyan Cai, Shaoyang Wu, Jian Kang, Jianbin Zhou, Zhiyan Chen, Xusheng Zheng (), Xiangheng Xiao () and Gongming Wang ()
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Yishang Wu: University of Science and Technology of China
Xiaojing Liu: University of Science and Technology of China
Dongdong Han: University of Science and Technology of China
Xianyin Song: Wuhan University
Lei Shi: University of Science and Technology of China
Yao Song: University of Science and Technology of China
Shuwen Niu: University of Science and Technology of China
Yufang Xie: University of Science and Technology of China
Jinyan Cai: University of Science and Technology of China
Shaoyang Wu: University of Science and Technology of China
Jian Kang: University of Science and Technology of China
Jianbin Zhou: University of Science and Technology of China
Zhiyan Chen: Central South University of Forestry and Technology
Xusheng Zheng: University of Science and Technology of China
Xiangheng Xiao: Wuhan University
Gongming Wang: University of Science and Technology of China

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Metal sulfides for hydrogen evolution catalysis typically suffer from unfavorable hydrogen desorption properties due to the strong interaction between the adsorbed H and the intensely electronegative sulfur. Here, we demonstrate a general strategy to improve the hydrogen evolution catalysis of metal sulfides by modulating the surface electron densities. The N modulated NiCo2S4 nanowire arrays exhibit an overpotential of 41 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 37 mV dec−1, which are very close to the performance of the benchmark Pt/C in alkaline condition. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and density functional theory studies consistently confirm the surface electron densities of NiCo2S4 have been effectively manipulated by N doping. The capability to modulate the electron densities of the catalytic sites could provide valuable insights for the rational design of highly efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution and beyond.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03858-w

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