Ni Strongly Coupled with Mo2C Encapsulated in Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanofibers as Robust Bifunctional Catalyst for Overall Water Splitting. Issue 10 (28th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Meixuan; Zhu, Yun; Wang, Huiyuan; Wang, Ce; Pinna, Nicola; Lu, Xiaofeng
• Is Part Of: Advanced energy materials. Volume 9:Issue 10(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-01-28
• Subjects: bifunctional electrocatalysts -- electrospinning -- Mo2C -- Ni -- overall water splitting; Energy harvesting -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Materials -- Periodicals; Photovoltaics -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Thermoelectric materials -- Periodicals; 621.31
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201803185
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1614-6832

Abstract

Abstract: It is urgently required to develop highly efficient and stable bifunctional non‐noble metal electrocatalysts for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for water splitting. In this study, a facile electrospinning followed by a post‐carbonization treatment to synthesize nitrogen‐doped carbon nanofibers (NCNFs) integrated with Ni and Mo2 C nanoparticles (Ni/Mo2 C‐NCNFs) as water splitting electrocatalysts is developed. Owing to the strong hydrogen binding energy on Mo2 C and high electrical conductivity of Ni, synergetic effect between Ni and Mo2 C nanoparticles significantly promote both HER and OER activities. The optimized hybrid (Ni/Mo2 C(1:2)‐NCNFs) delivers low overpotentials of 143 mV for HER and 288 mV for OER at a current density of 10 mA cm −2 . An alkaline electrolyzer with Ni/Mo2 C(1:2)‐NCNFs as catalysts for both anode and cathode exhibits a current density of 10 mA cm −2 at a voltage of 1.64 V, which is only 0.07 V larger than the benchmark of Pt/C‐RuO2 electrodes. In addition, an outstanding long‐term durability during 100 h testing without obvious degradation is achieved, which is superior to most of the noble‐metal‐free electrocatalysts reported to date. This work provides a simple and effective approach for the preparation of low‐cost and high‐performance bifunctional electrocatalysts for efficient overall water splitting. Abstract : A facile strategy based on electrospinning and post‐carbonization process is demonstrated for the preparation of nitrogen‐doped carbon nanofibers incorporating Ni and Mo2 C nanoparticles, which could be used for efficient overall water spitting. The electrolyzer with this hybrid as both anode and cathode shows good electrocatalytic activity and outstanding long‐term durability, which is superior to most noble‐metal‐free electrocatalysts.