Electrospun PW12Ni5O43.5(isogenous) nanocomposites for highly efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

The fabrication of cost-effective hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst is a critical demand for environment-friendly energy generation with the replacement of precious metal based materials. As a powerful substitute for such purpose, Keggin heteropoly acid (HPA) H3PW12O40 (PW12) was taken as a crucial precursor to form the P–W–Ni oxide nanocomposites via electrospinning method with subsequent calcination. The characterizations of scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscope, x-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared, Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical method illustrated that the obtained composites were constituted of tungsten oxide phosphate (W18P2O59), nickel tungstate (NiWO4), and tungsten oxide (WO3). The crystalline PW12Ni5O43.5(isogenous) obtained at molar proportion of PW12 to NiAc2 in 1:5 exhibited excellent HER properties with small Tafel slope of 57 mV/decade and low overpotential of −0.35 V. The crystalline PW12Ni5O43.5(isogenous) nanocomposite synthesized from PW12 as precursor holds more excellent HER electrocatalytic performance than that of sample fabricated from (NH4)10W12O41 and H3PO4 as precursors. This is due to the uniformity morphology of PW12Ni5O43.5/FTO (isogenous) and enhanced synergistic effect between oxide components resulted from the favoring electrospinning process with the introduction of PW12. In this paper, PW12Ni5O43.5/FTO (isogenous) ternary nanocomposite were prepared as a facile and simple process, which allows easy control, good reproducibility, and cost-effectiveness. And PW12Ni5O43.5/FTO (isogenous) have excellent HER electrocatalytic performance.