Core–Shell CoS2/FeS2 Heterojunction Encapsulated in N-Doped Carbon Nanocubes Derived from Coordination Polymers for Electrocatalytic Alkaline Water/Seawater Splitting

Utilizing renewable energy for green hydrogen production via electrolyzed seawater is a promising technology for the future. However, undesired chlorine evolution and the corrosive nature of seawater are crucial challenges for direct seawater splitting technology. In this work, heterojunctions of CoS₂/FeS₂ encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanocubes (denoted as CoS₂/FeS₂@NC) were designed by proposing the synchronous pyrolysis and vulcanization of polydopamine-coated coordination polymers. Such a synthetic strategy was demonstrated to be effective in increasing the favorable exposure of active sites, moderately regulating electronic structure, and remarkably facilitating charge transfer due to the controllable generation of unique core-shell structures with suitable carbon shells, leading to the excellent bifunctional electrocatalytic performance and enhanced stability of electrocatalysts. As a result, CoS₂/FeS₂@NC can be revealed as a superior water splitting catalyst, possessing a small voltage of 1.75 V and requiring 100.0 mA cm^-2 in 1 M KOH alkaline solution and 1.80 V for alkaline seawater media, with satisfactory long-term stability. This work presents fresh strategies for designing core-shell heterostructures and developing green technology for hydrogen production.