Defect-enriched heterointerfaces N–MoO2–Mo2C supported Pd nanocomposite as a novel multifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction and overall water splitting

Abstract

Developing highly efficient, cost-saving, and durable multifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) continues to be a significant challenge in the energy field. In this work, we decide to prepare an unusual multifunctional electrocatalyst, such as icosahedral palladium nanocrystals (PdNCs) encapsulating on N–MoO2–Mo2C half-hollow nanotube (HHNT) heterointerface, using an in-situ chemical reaction and following sonic probe irradiation method. All the experiments demonstrate that special defect-enriched heterointerfaces N–MoO2–Mo2C supported Pd nanocomposite can greatly improve the ORR activity (Eonset = 1.01 V and E1/2 = 0.90 V) with good stability, outstanding HER (η10 = 65 mV) and OER (η10 = 180 mV) performances than those of commercial precious electrocatalysts (Platinum on carbon [Pt/C] and ruthenium oxide [RuO2]). The overall water splitting electrolyzer fabricates by Pd/N–MoO2–Mo2C as both anode and cathode electrodes to achieve a current density of 10 Ma/cm2 at a cell voltage of 1.56 V, which surpasses the most recent reported electrocatalysts.