Efficient Electrochemical and Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting by a 3D Nanostructured Carbon Supported on Flexible Exfoliated Graphene Foil

Adv Mater. 2017 Jan;29(3). doi: 10.1002/adma.201604480. Epub 2016 Nov 18.

Abstract

A novel 3D Co-Nx |P-complex-doped carbon grown on flexible exfoliated graphene foil is designed and constructed for both electrochemical and photoelectrochemical water splitting. The coordination of Co-Nx active centers hybridized with that of neighboring P atoms enhances the electron transfer and optimizes the charge distribution of the carbon surface, which synergistically promotes reaction kinetics by providing more exposed active sites.

Keywords: 3D nanostructured carbon; CoNx active centers; P-doping; strong coupling effects; water splitting.