Electronic structure and efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of boron-doped fibrous red phosphorene

Under the dual challenges of the energy crisis and environmental pollution, the technology of photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production has become a research hotspot for clean energy due to its green and sustainable characteristics. Fibrous red phosphorus (FRP), as a novel quasi-one-dimensional semiconductor material, exhibits remarkable photocatalytic hydrogen evolution potential because of its moderate bandgap, high carrier mobility, and excellent air stability. Based on the first-principles calculations, the regulatory mechanisms of electronic structure and catalytic performance of single-layer FRP doped by a series of non-metallic elements <i>X</i> (<i>X</i> = B, C, N, O, Si, S, As, and Se) are systematically investigated in this work. The results show that the element <i>X</i> can effectively enhance the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of single-layer FRP. Among those doped systems, four specific systems (S-doped at site 1, B-doped at sites 1/2/5) exhibit excellent catalytic activity for HER. Especially, the B-doped system at site 2 has the most ideal free energy of hydrogen adsorption (Δ<i>G</i><sub>H*</sub>), and its overpotential (<i>η</i> = –0.074 V) is comparable to that of the noble metal Pt catalyst. The analysis of the electronic structure indicates that the enhancement of the HER catalytic activity is closely related to the downward shift of the <i>X</i> p<sub><i>z</i></sub>-band center at the adsorption site. There is a direct proportional relationship between Δ<i>G</i><sub>H*</sub> and the <i>X</i> p<sub><i>z</i></sub>-band center (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> ≥ 0.78), indicating that the <i>X</i> p<sub><i>z</i></sub>-band center can serve as a key electronic descriptor for regulating the HER activity. Further verification by calculations using the HSE06 hybrid functional shows that the band edge positions of the B-doped system can span both sides of the redox potential of water, and the light absorption range covers the visible light region, indicating the thermodynamic feasibility and spectral response advantages of this system in the application of photocatalytic overall water splitting. This study provides important theoretical guidance for designing efficient FRP-based photocatalytic materials based on the non-metallic doping strategy.