Facile construction of N-doped Mo2C@CNT composites with 3D nanospherical structures as an efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

In this study, we synthesized nitrogen-doped Mo2C@carbon nanotube (N-Mo2C@CNT) composites via a facile one-pot method of solvothermal followed by calcination. The SEM and TEM results of N-Mo2C@CNT composites show that the sphere-shaped N-Mo2C is covered by CNTs. In addition, the electrocatalytic performances of the as-obtained N-Mo2C@CNT composites were examined towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic media. It is revealed that the N-Mo2C@CNT composite with optimum content of CNTs (30 mg) exhibits an excellent catalytic activity with less overpotential of 183 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and smaller Tafel slope of 73.95 mV dec−1 as compared with pure Mo2C. Furthermore, it has a good cycling stability after 1000 cycles. This enhanced activity due to the creation of more active sites, large specific surface area by better synergistic effect between the N-Mo2C and CNT. Consequently, the N-Mo2C@CNT composite is a viable alternative to the noble metal electrocatalysts for HER.