Zinc Doping Enhances the Electrocatalytic Properties of Cobalt Borides for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Electrochemical water splitting requires new, low-cost cathode electrodes for the hydrogen evolution reaction to enable worldwide implementation of electrolyzers. Cobalt borides are proposed as one most promising materials overcome limitations commercial electrocatalysts, but catalytic activity still needs be improved competitive. Here, we report that introduction zinc into cobalt boride produce a ternary is an efficient route further improve towards (HER) boride. The Co-Zn-B was prepared by easy chemical reduction method achieve superior HER electrocatalytic performance with lower overpotential than homologous Co-B. larger surface area, structural order, crystallization degree and, in particular, different chemistry seem key factors this improvement.