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First-Principles Mechanistic Insights into the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Ni2P Electrocatalyst in Alkaline Medium

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posted on 2024-09-18, 10:47 authored by Russell CrossRussell Cross, Nelson DzadeNelson Dzade

Nickel phosphide (Ni2P) is a promising material for the electrocatalytic generation of hydrogen from water. Here, we present a chemical picture of the fundamental mechanism of Volmer–Tafel steps in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity under alkaline conditions at the (0001) and (10-10) surfaces of Ni2P using dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations. Two terminations of each surface (Ni3P2- and Ni3P-terminated (0001); and Ni2P- and NiP-terminated (10-10)), which have been shown to coexist in Ni2P samples depending on the experimental conditions, were studied. Water adsorption on the different terminations of the Ni2P (0001) and (10-10) surfaces is shown to be exothermic (binding energy in the range of 0.33−0.68 eV) and characterized by negligible charge transfer to/from the catalyst surface (0.01−0.04 e). The activation energy barriers for the dissociation of water on each termination of the Ni2P (0001) and (10-10) surfaces are determined. The Gibbs free energy of hydrogen adsorption (ΔGH*) at different surface sites is also predicted.

The density functional theory (DFT) theoretical simulation datasets are available in the .xlsx format (can be viewed either by MS Office or Libre Office) comprising 8 datasheets which gives information about the bulk-Ni2P structure; DOS of Ni2P; H2O molecular and dissociative adsorption structures adsorption (0001) and (10-10) surfaces; and the transition state structures for H2O dissociation. Data for the optimized structures are available in CONTCAR format of the VASP simulation program. The CONTCAR files consist of lattice parameter and atomic positions and can be viewed either by MS Office or WordPad. The density of states (DOS) data are in 2 columns: first column been the Energy (eV) and second column been the intensity of the DOS (arb. units). This DOS data can be plotted using any plotting software, e.g., xmgrace, excel.

Research results based upon these data are published at https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10030307


Funding

Computer-aided design of zinc phosphide heterojunctions for efficient solar energy conversion

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

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History

Data-collection start date

2018-11-01

Data-collection end date

2020-02-03

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