Plasma enabled non-thermal phosphorization for nickel phosphide hydrogen evolution catalysts

While nickel phosphide is a highly attractive catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction, its preparation requires either high temperature or the use of highly toxic PH₃ directly or indirectly. Herein, we demonstrate that H₂ plasma activated red phosphorus enables the synthesis of self-supported Ni₂P nanosheet (Ni₂P/NF) arrays on commercial nickel foam from a NiO/NF precursor at only 250 °C. Highly reactive atomic H in the plasma induces dissociation of the P₄ molecules, yielding an acid stable electrode with excellent hydrogen evolution activity and good mechanical strength.