Tuning the cationic ratio of Fe1CoxNiyP integrated on Vertically aligned reduced graphene oxide array via electroless plating as efficient self-supported bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting

Water splitting is considered as a potential sustainable and green technology for producing mass hydrogen and oxygen. A cost-effective self-supported stable electrocatalyst with excellent electrocatalytic performance in a wide pH range is greatly required for water splitting. This work reports on the synthesis and anchoring of Fe1CoxNiyP nanoparticles on vertically aligned reduced graphene oxide array (VrGO) via electroless plating. The catalytic activity of Fe1CoxNiyP nanoparticles is tuned finely by tailoring the cationic ratio of Co and Ni. Fe1Co2Ni1P/VrGO exhibits the lowest overpotential (58 and 110 mV) at 10 mA cm−2 and lowest tafel slope (31 and 33 mV dec−1) for hydrogen evolution reaction in 1.0 M KOH and 0.5 M H2SO4 respectively. Fe1Co1Ni2P/VrGO exhibits the lowest overpotential (173 mV) at 10 mA cm−2 with lowest tafel slope (47 mV dec-1) for oxygen evolution reaction. The enhanced performance of the electrocatalyst is attributed to improved electrical conductivity, synergistic effects and beneficial electronic states caused by the appropriate atomic ratio of Co and Ni in the bifunctional electrocatalyst. This study helps to explore the effect of variable cationic ratio in the cost-effective ternary iron group metal phosphides electrocatalysts to achieve enhanced electrocatalytic performance for water splitting in a wide pH range.