A triple synergistic effect from pitaya-like MoNix–MoCx hybrids encapsulated in N-doped C nanospheres for efficient hydrogen evolution. Issue 7 (31st May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chi, Jing-Qi; Lin, Jia-Hui; Qin, Jun-Feng; Dong, Bin; Yan, Kai-Li; Liu, Zi-Zhang; Zhang, Xin-Yu; Chai, Yong-Ming; Liu, Chen-Guang
• Is Part Of: Sustainable energy & fuels. Volume 2:Issue 7(2018)
• Page Start: 1610
• Page End: 1620
• Publication Date: 2018-05-31
• Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Electric batteries -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 660.297
• DOI: 10.1039/c8se00135a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2398-4902

Abstract

Abstract : A facile strategy of using organic–inorganic precursor and followed carbonization is adopted to prepare ternary core–shell nanostructures composed of ultrafine hybrids of MoNi alloys and MoC x nanoparticles encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanospheres (MoNi x –MoC x @NC). Abstract : To enhance the intrinsic activity and the density of active sites of catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), a facile strategy of using an organic–inorganic precursor followed by carbonization is adopted to prepare ternary core–shell nanostructures composed of ultrafine hybrids of MoNi alloys and MoC x nanoparticles encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanospheres (MoNi x –MoC x @NC). The well-defined pitaya-like nanostructures of MoNi x –MoC x nanoparticles encapsulated by N-doped carbon nanospheres can be obtained with MoNi x –MoC x hybrids as the core and ultrathin N-doped C layers as the shell. A triple synergistic effect has been achieved for the HER. The first synergistic effect from homogeneously dispersed MoNi x alloys and MoC x nanoparticles can improve the intrinsic activity and conductivity of MoC x . The second synergistic effect from the MoNi x –MoC x and NC shell can enhance the density of active sites and conductivity of MoNi x –MoC x . The third synergistic effect from N-doped C can accelerate the charge transfer rate and improve close interaction between NC and MoNi x –MoC x . The MoNi x –MoC x @NC sample at an optimized low temperature of 700 °C exhibits excellent performance and long-term stability in both acidic and alkaline solution. It requires a lower overpotential of only 172 mV and 168 mV at 10 mA cm −2 in acidic and alkaline solution, respectively. This work provides a new approach to design multiple synergistic effects from excellent catalytic interface through an organic–inorganic hybrid method for efficient electrocatalysis.