Porous array with CoP nanoparticle modification derived from MOF grown on carbon cloth for effective alkaline hydrogen evolution

Abstract Metal organic framework (MOF) as a template strategy to get dispersed metal particle with high catalytic activity is widely used in the design of electrodes for hydrogen production. Herein, we report using carbon nanotube (CNT) as a multifunctional active binder that would promote the growth of MOF arrays on carbon fiber cloth (CFC) substrate and the release of hydrogen. By modified CFC with this new active binder: (1) the active material was more firmly anchored to the carbon fiber; (2) the overall electron transport efficiency was improved; and (3) the MOF precursor grew more uniformly on the carbon fiber, and greatly increased the number of active sites. Benefited from the CNT modification, the obtained porous array with CoP nanoparticle modification (CFC-CNT-CoOx/CoP) catalyst displayed superior alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance and excellent stability with an overpotential of 108 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a small Tafel slope of 60 mV dec−1. The excellent HER performance mainly derived from the structure optimization and enhanced electron transfer brought by the active binders. In addition, Co(OH)2 appeared in the long-time HER process and the synergistic interaction of CoOx, CoP, Co(OH)2 and CNT maintained the good stability.