Pr-doped NiCoP nanowire arrays for efficient hydrogen evolution in both acidic and alkaline media

Abstract Enhancing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance of electrocatalysts is essential for developing clean energy, in which doping is one of the most effective ways. In this work, praseodymium-doped NiCoP nanowire arrays grown on nickel foam (Pr-NiCoP NWAs/NF) as electrocatalysts were synthesized through hydrothermal reaction and low temperature phosphating. The subsequent tests revealed that the introduction of Pr can modulate the morphology, density of the active sites and electrical conductivity of the NiCoP NWAs/NF. Thereby, the Pr-NiCoP NWAs/NF realized the fast reaction kinetics and exceptional HER performance. When the additive molar amount of Pr is 10%, Pr-NiCoP NWAs/NF electrode exhibited the highest electrocatalytic activity. Its overpotential corresponding to current density of 10 mA•cm-2 were 91 and 88 mV in 0.5 mol•L-1 H2SO4 and 1 mol•L-1 KOH, the Tafel slope of which were 45.5 and 69.2 mV•dec-1, respectively. Further, this work provides a promising strategy to explore highly efficient HER electrocatalysts.