Constructing three-dimensional porous Ni/Ni₃S₂nano-interfaces for hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis under alkaline conditions

It is still a challenging issue to design earth-abundant electrocatalysts with low cost, high activity and long-term stability for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) based on water splitting in alkaline solutions. Here, we report a facile synthetic route for a three-dimensional, porous Ni/Ni3S2nano-network on carbon cloth for the efficient catalysis of HER. This unique structure exposes a high proportion of Ni/Ni3S2hetero-interfaces to the electrolyte, creating a synergetic effect between Ni and Ni3S2that enhances HER. The synergetic effect at the interface was verified by DFT calculation and involves the interface-assisted heterolytic splitting of H2O into OH-and H+and the subsequent expeditious H2-forming reaction caused by weakened binding between Ni and H induced by the neighboring Ni3S2. The resulting porous network shows high HER activity in alkaline media, reaching 10 mA cm-2at 95 mV with a Tafel slope of 66 mV dec-1. This value is much smaller than that of nickel metal, which is currently used in industry.