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A Redox‐anchoring Approach to Well‐dispersed MoC x /C Nanocomposite for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Author(s) -
Zhou Yajun,
Zhang Lingxia,
Huang Weimin,
Wang Min,
Chen Lisong,
Cui Xiangzhi,
Zhang Xiaohua,
Shi Jianlin
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemistry – an asian journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1861-471X
pISSN - 1861-4728
DOI - 10.1002/asia.201601528
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , overpotential , materials science , redox , chemical engineering , nanocomposite , noble metal , electrolyte , nanomaterial based catalyst , electrochemistry , carbon fibers , inorganic chemistry , carbide , nanoparticle , chemistry , metal , nanotechnology , electrode , composite number , composite material , metallurgy , engineering
Here we report a redox‐anchoring strategy for synthesizing a non‐noble metal carbide (MoC x ) nanocomposite electrocatalyst for water electrolysis in acidic media, using glucose and ammonium heptamolybdate as carbon and Mo precursors, respectively, without the need of gaseous carbon sources such as CH 4 . Specifically, the aldehyde groups of glucose are capable of reducing Mo 6+ to Mo 4+ (MoO 2 ), and thus molybdenum species can be well anchored by a redox reaction onto a carbon matrix to prevent the aggregation of MoC x nanoparticles during the following carbonization process. The morphology and chemical composition of the electrocatalysts were well characterized by BSE‐SEM, TEM, XRD and XPS. The obtained MoC x −2 sample showed a reasonably high hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity and excellent stability in an acidic electrolyte, and its overpotential required for a current density output of 20 mA cm −2 is as low as 193 mV. Such a prominent performance is ascribed to the excellent dispersity and nano‐size, and the large reactive surface area of MoC x particles. This work may open a new way to the design and fabrication of other non‐noble metal carbide nanocatalysts for various electrochemical applications.