Self-supported Ni(P, O)_x·MoO_x nanowire array on nickel foam as an efficient and durable electrocatalyst for alkaline hydrogen evolution

Earth-abundant and low-cost catalysts with excellent electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity in alkaline solution play an important role in the sustainable production of hydrogen energy. In this work, a catalyst of Ni(P, O)_x·MoO_x nanowire array on nickel foam has been prepared via a facile route for efficient alkaline HER. Benefiting from the collaborative advantages of Ni(P, O)_x and amorphous MoO_x, as well as three-dimensional porous conductive nickel scaffold, the hybrid electrocatalyst shows high catalytic activity in 1 M KOH aqueous solution, including a small overpotential of 59 mV at 10 mA cm^–2, a low Tafel slope of 54 mV dec^-1, and excellent cycling stability.