N, P (S) Co-doped Mo2C/C hybrid electrocatalysts for improved hydrogen generation. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Dezhi; Liu, Tianying; Wang, Junchao; Wu, Zhuangzhi
• Is Part Of: Carbon. Volume 139(2018)
• Page Start: 845
• Page End: 852
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Hydrogen evolution reaction -- Molybdenum carbide -- Heteroatom-doping -- Synergistic effect; Carbon -- Periodicals; Carbone -- Périodiques; Koolstof; Toepassingen; Electronic journals; 546.681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2018.07.043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-6223

Abstract

Abstract: Recently, molybdenum carbide (Mo2 C) has aroused tremendous interests as a potential candidate to replace Pt-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the HER performance of Mo2 C is intrinsically limited by the empty d-orbitals with a large density in Mo2 C and the resulting strong Mo-H bonding. Heteroatom-doping is an effective route for tuning the d-orbitals of Mo2 C and improving the catalytic activity. Hence, in this work, we design two facile pathways to synthesize unique N, P and N, S dual-doped Mo2 C/C hybrid electrocatalysts as highly active HER catalysts. The co-doping of N, P and N, S involves the substitute of C atoms in both Mo2 C crystals and carbon matrix for a better synergistic effect, and can further improve the HER activity of Mo2 C electrocatalysts compared to individual N doping. As expected, the obtained N, P or N, S dual-doped Mo2 C catalyst (NP-Mo2 C or NS-Mo2 C) exhibits lower electrochemical resistance, higher intrinsic activity of each active site, or larger electrochemically active surface area (AECSA, for NP-Mo2 C), thus leading to enhanced HER activity as well as stability in the acidic solution. Graphical abstract: Image 1