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Article analysis:

The article discusses the development of a new class of electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) using nonmetal heteroatom doping in metal trichalcogenidophosphates (MTPs). The authors highlight the importance of finding an electrocatalyst that is low cost, stable, and highly active for HER. They note that while noble metal catalysts like Pt-based catalysts are highly efficient, their scarcity and high cost limit their practical applications. Non-noble-metal-based materials like transition metal chalcogenides and phosphides have attracted attention due to their abundance and relatively high electrocatalytic performance.

The authors focus on NiPS3 as a potential electrocatalyst for HER but note that its activity is far inferior to many other phosphosulphides despite having abundant PSx functional groups. Theoretical calculations reveal that only undercoordinated edge atoms in NiPS3 participate as active sites while the sites on its basal plane remain inert due to the intrinsic semiconducting nature of NiPS3, which also leads to slow electron transfer along the basal plane.

To improve HER activity, the authors introduce nonmetal heteroatom doping into NiPS3 and demonstrate that B- and C-doping can transform the semiconducting NiPS3 to a meal and greatly activate surface sites for hydrogen adsorption on NiPS3 catalyst leading to optimal HER activity. They establish an interplay between hydrogen adsorption free energy and p-band center of active sites and correlate directly HER activity of doped NiPS3 with electronic structures of dopants.

While the article provides valuable insights into developing new electrocatalysts for HER using nonmetal heteroatom doping in MTPs, it may have some biases. For example, it focuses solely on the benefits of nonmetal heteroatom doping without exploring any potential risks or drawbacks associated with this approach. Additionally, it does not present any counterarguments or alternative approaches to developing electrocatalysts for HER. The article also appears to be promotional in nature, highlighting the potential of MTPs as a new class of electrocatalysts without discussing any limitations or challenges associated with their development and implementation.

Overall, the article provides valuable insights into developing new electrocatalysts for HER using nonmetal heteroatom doping in MTPs. However, it may have some biases and limitations that should be considered when interpreting its findings.