Abstract
Developing low-cost, noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is paramount for sustainable green hydrogen production. In this work, phosphorus and sulfur co-doped carbon nanofibers (P,S-CNFs) were successfully synthesized via a facile single-nozzle electrospinning process followed by stabilization and carbonization. The structural and chemical properties of the prepared catalysts were systematically characterized using electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Electrochemical evaluations in 0.5 M H2SO4 revealed that the optimized P,S-CNF catalyst exhibited superior HER activity, requiring an overpotential of only 168 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2, along with a small Tafel slope of 58 mV dec−1. This performance significantly outperforms that of undoped, single P-doped, and single S-doped carbon nanofibers. The enhanced catalytic activity is attributed to the synergistic electronic modulation induced by the co-incorporation of P and S atoms into the carbon lattice, which optimizes hydrogen adsorption free energy, combined with the high specific surface area and interconnected network of the electrospun nanofibers. Furthermore, P,S-CNFs demonstrated remarkable durability over 24 hours of continuous acidic operation. This research provides a practical strategy for engineering highly efficient, metal-free carbonaceous electrocatalysts for clean energy applications.
