Open AccessStructure-controlled tungsten carbide nanoplates for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction
Author(s) -
Shizhao Wu,
Xiaofeng Lu,
Xiaodan Chen,
Hanlu Gao,
Jing Gao,
Guohua Li
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nano express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2632-959X
DOI - 10.1088/2632-959x/abf2ad
Subject(s) - tafel equation , overpotential , materials science , tungsten carbide , mesoporous material , chemical engineering , electrochemistry , carbide , microstructure , noble metal , tungsten , hydrogen , nanotechnology , metal , metallurgy , catalysis , electrode , chemistry , engineering , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Developing a low-cost and durable non-noble metal eletrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is critical in efficient hydrogen production. Herein, tungsten carbide nanoplates (WC NPs) with typical mesoporous structure were prepared by a controlled hydrothermal reaction followed by a gas-solid carburization process. The crystal phases, microstructure and chemical components of the nanoplates were characterized, and their electrochemical properties were measured. The results show that the as-prepared WC NPs expose active sites upmost, and exhibit enhanced conductivity and superior HER performance in acid solution in terms of a small η 10 (overpotential to obtain a current density of 10 mA cm −2 ) of 120 mV, a Tafel slope of 58 mV dec −1 and outstanding long-term cycling stability. These indicate that the HER properties of WC NPs are dramatically enhanced compared to that of all phase pure WC materials reported in recent years. This enhancement can be attributed to their unique structural and electronic properties, which can be exploited to improve the electrochemical properties of traditional non-noble metal material.