Magnetic field assisted synthesis of dense braided rope NiCoP as a highly efficient hydrogen evolution electrocatalyst

The design of efficient stable and noble metal-free catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction is an important and challenging global task. In this work, high catalytic activity NiCoP braided rope was prepared by magneto-electrodeposition strategy for the first time. Notably, the magnetic field-induced magnetohydrodynamic effect serves multiple purposes. COMSOL numerical simulations reveal the formation mechanism of a braided rope structure. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that NiCoP has superior activity, attributed to Co active sites. In 1.0 M KOH and 0.5 M H₂SO₄, respectively, the overpotential of NiCoP prepared under 600 mT magnetic field (NiCoP-600) is only 48 and 34 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻². Additionally, the TOF of NiCoP-600 was 36 times as high as that of NiCoP at an overpotential of 100 mV. Furthermore, NiCoP-600 can be used as the cathode and anode for overall water splitting in an alkaline electrolyzer.