Effect of Mo-addition over a large enhancement of the hydrogen evolution reaction in WC/rGO nanocomposite

Abstract

We report a large enhancement of the hydrogen evolution reaction in WxC/rGO nanocomposite by adding Mo to the composite. The mixed transition metal carbide (WxC-MoxC/rGO) nanocomposite was prepared by a liquid phase reaction followed by a high temperature (900 °C) annealing processes that led to the crystallization of WxC, MoxC and simultaneous reduction of graphene oxide to reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The WxC-MoxC/rGO (Mo = 0.25 g) catalyst achieved very good hydrogen evolution reaction with an overpotential of −170 mV at 10 mA and a Tafel slope of 76 mV dec−1 indicating the suitability of this composite for the hydrogen production.