Multi-interfacial Ni/Mo2C ultrafine hybrids anchored on nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for water splitting. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ge, Riyue; Zhao, Juanli; Huo, Juanjuan; Qu, Jiangtao; Yang, Jack; Li, Ying; Zhu, Mingyuan; Cairney, Julie M.; Zheng, Rongkun; Li, Sean; Zhang, Jiujun; Liu, Bin; Li, Wenxian
• Is Part Of: Materials today nano. Volume 20(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Heterostructure -- Metal carbide -- Nickel nanoparticle -- Hydrogen evolution reaction -- Oxygen evolution reaction; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology; Nanoscience; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Periodical; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtnano.2022.100248
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2588-8420

Abstract

Abstract: Interfacial engineering in the rapid development of high-performance electrocatalysts for water splitting has been explored as a promising strategy to improve catalytic performance due to the tunable free energy of reaction intermediates on the interfacial compositions. Here, multiple-interfacial Ni/molybdenum carbide hybrid nanoparticles embedded in N-doped carbon nanosheets (Ni/Mo2 C@NC) electrocatalyst were fabricated via a solid-state co-reduction method. The as-synthesized catalyst exhibits excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity with an overpotential of 91 mV at 10 mA/cm 2 and a Tafel slope of 74 mV/dec in alkaline solution, and outstanding stability owing to the high conductivity, abundant interfacial active sites, and synergistic effect between Ni and Mo2 C nanoparticles. This electrocatalyst as bifunctional electrode possesses an applied voltage of 1.64 V at 10 mA/cm 2 and long-term durability in an electrolysis cell. Moreover, density functional theory calculations reveal that the electron transfer across Ni/Mo2 C heterointerfaces could optimize the water adsorption/dissociation and H adsorption/desorption capacities, thereby boosting the intrinsic HER activity. Graphical abstract: Multiple-interfacial Ni/molybdenum carbide hybrid nanoparticles anchored on N-doped carbon nanosheets (Ni/Mo2 C@NC) electrocatalyst had been successfully fabricated. Benefiting from the high conductivity, abundant active sites and synergetic effect between Ni and Mo2 C nanoparticles, the optimized catalyst could possess high catalytic performance for water splitting. Image 1 Highlights: Multiple-interfacial Ni/molybdenum carbide nanoparticles anchored on N-doped carbon nanosheets (Ni/Mo2 C@NC) electrocatalyst was fabricated. Ni/Mo2 C@NC catalyst possessed higher HER activity than the commercial Pt/C at a high potential range in alkaline solution. DFT calculations revealed that the coupling interaction between Ni and Mo2 C could efficiently enhance the intrinsic HER activity. The catalyst showed high water-splitting activity with a cell voltage of 1.64 V at 10 mA/cm 2, as well as high durability.