Construction of a MoxC/Ni Network Electrode with Low Overpotential for Hydrogen Generation. Issue 7 (23rd May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Jian; Meng, Xin; Zhao, Jianghong; Zhu, Zhenping
• Is Part Of: ChemCatChem. Volume 6:Issue 7(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 2059
• Page End: 2064
• Publication Date: 2014-05-23
• Subjects: Catalysis -- Periodicals; 541.39505
• DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201402000
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1867-3880

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The integration of commercial photovoltaic devices and electrocatalysts has attracted considerable interest to realize the conversion of solar power to renewable hydrogen energy. However, a noble metal electrocatalyst (Pt) is too expensive and rare, which inspires the development of efficient and economical catalytic electrodes. Herein, we have fabricated a 3 D Mo_{<italic>x</italic>}C/Ni network through the carbonization of a polyaniline–Mo₇O₂₄ precursor, which was electrochemically deposited on Ni foam in advance. If the 3 D Mo_{<italic>x</italic>}C/Ni network is used as a catalytic electrode for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), a low onset potential of approximately 44 mV for driving 1 mA cm⁻² of current density and a Tafel slope of approximately 49 mV decade⁻¹ (overpotential <italic>η</italic>=50–60 mV) are obtained. Moreover, the apparent exchange current density reaches approximately 0.1 mA cm⁻². After a long‐term HER test at <italic>η</italic>=100 mV or 500 CV sweeps, no deactivation is observed. This excellent electrocatalytic performance of the 3 D Mo_{<italic>x</italic>}C/Ni network promotes it as a promising earth‐abundant HER electrode.</p> </abstract>