LAUSR

Abstract The rational design of high-performance electrocatalysts based on nonprecious metals is a key for the development of water splitting technology. In this work, porous nickel cobalt nitride−oxide (NiCo-N-O) nanosheet hybrids in a networked configuration are synthesized on carbon cloth through in situ plasma treatment of nickel cobalt layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursors. The self-supported NiCo-N-O electrodes exhibit outstanding catalytic activity of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with a low overpotential of 50 mV at 10 mA cm-2 in alkaline condition. The synergistic effects of the morphology, microstructure, and electron transfer between nickel cobalt nitride and oxide, and the favorable role of introducing bimetallic Ni and Co sites on the enhanced electrocatalytic activities are discussed. This work provides a simple and feasible pathway to prepare porous bimetal nitride–oxide hybrid HER electrocatalysts with high efficiency and stability.