Reduced graphene oxide supporting hollow bimetallic phosphide nanoparticle hybrids for electrocatalytic oxygen evolution

•Hollow CoNiP nanoparticles on rGO prepared by low temperature phosphorization•This new nanohybrid material has high electrocatalytic activity towards OER in alkaline solution•Highly OER activities own to synergistic effects between metals and rGO and the in situ formed active species

Nanohybrids with hollow CoNiP nanoparticles decorating reduced graphene oxide (h-CoNiP/rGO) are prepared by a low-temperature phosphorization method. The h-CoNiP/rGO present favorable electrocatalytic advantages toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solution, including an onset potential of 1.44 V, a low overpotential of 280 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm− 2, a small Tafel slope of 65.2 mV dec− 1, and pretty good durability. The use of earth-abundant elements in a high-activity OER electrocatalyst may provide an effective way of advancing the development of full water splitting.