Maize-like CoP nanorod arrays as an efficient and robust electrocatalyst for superior hydrogen generation

High-performance, low-cost and robust electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) play a critical role in large-scale hydrogen production via water splitting. Herein, we proposed a synthesis strategy for the self-assembly of maize-like CoP nanorod arrays with abundant active sites via a combination of conventional hydrothermal reaction and low-temperature phosphorization. This unique architecture exhibited remarkable catalytic performance for the HER, with a low overpotential of 130 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 and a small Tafel slope of 59 mV dec^?1 in 1.0 M KOH electrolyte, as well as good stability as verified by chronoamperometry measurement for 10 h. Density functional theory calculations further revealed that these maize-like CoP nanorod arrays with dense active sites and a high phosphorization degree could boost the HER performance in terms of low adsorption energy and free energy. This work provided a facile strategy towards manipulating morphology engineering to enhance the HER activity of CoP-based catalysts.