Ultrafine Molybdenum Carbide Nanoparticles Composited with Carbon as a Highly Active Hydrogen‐Evolution Electrocatalyst |
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| Authors: | Ruguang Ma Yao Zhou Yongfang Chen Pengxi Li Prof Qian Liu Prof Jiacheng Wang |
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| Affiliation: | 1. State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1295 Dingxi Road, Shanghai 200050 (P. R. China);2. Innovation Center for Inorganic Materials Genomic Science, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Shanghai 200050 (P. R. China);3. Shanghai Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai 200444 (P. R. China);4. University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049 (P. R. China) |
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| Abstract: | The replacement of platinum with non‐precious‐metal electrocatalysts with high efficiency and superior stability for the hydrogen‐evolution reaction (HER) remains a great challenge. Herein, we report the one‐step synthesis of uniform, ultrafine molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) nanoparticles (NPs) within a carbon matrix from inexpensive starting materials (dicyanamide and ammonium molybdate). The optimized catalyst consisting of Mo2C NPs with sizes lower than 3 nm encapsulated by ultrathin graphene shells (ca. 1–3 layers) showed superior HER activity in acidic media, with a very low onset potential of ?6 mV, a small Tafel slope of 41 mV dec?1, and a large exchange current density of 0.179 mA cm?2, as well as good stability during operation for 12 h. These excellent properties are similar to those of state‐of‐the‐art 20 % Pt/C and make the catalyst one of the most active acid‐stable electrocatalysts ever reported for HER. |
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| Keywords: | electrocatalysis graphene hydrogen‐evolution reaction molybdenum carbide nanoparticles water splitting |
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