Nickel promoted cobalt disulfide nanowire array supported on carbon cloth: An efficient and stable bifunctional electrocatalyst for full water splitting

• Ni promoted CoS2 nanowire array acts as a bifunctional water-splitting catalyst.
• Ni2.3%-CoS2/CC exhibits high catalytic activity in basic media.
• Ni2.3%-CoS2/CC maintains strong electrochemical durability in basic media.

Development of efficient noble metal-free bifunctional electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is an ongoing challenge. Herein, we report the development of nickel promoted cobalt disulfide nanowire array supported on carbon cloth (Ni2.3%-CoS2/CC) as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting with superior activity and good durability in basic media. This Ni2.3%-CoS2/CC electrode delivers 100 mA cm− 2 at overpotential of 231 mV for HER and 100 mA cm− 2 at overpotential of 370 mV for OER. The water electrolyzer based on Ni2.3%–CoS2/CC only requires a cell voltage of 1.66 V to afford 10 mA cm− 2, implying the great potential for water splitting applications.