Fe2O3 and Co bimetallic decorated nitrogen doped graphene nanomaterial for effective electrochemical water split hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

The synthesis and development of catalyst with efficient electrocatalytic activity and long-term operation stability was a critical of hydrogen production for water splitting, however it is still a challenging step. Herein, a series of different proportion bimetallic uploaded nitrogen-doped graphene materials (Fe2O3-Co NPs-N-GR) were successfully synthesized through a simple, green and cost-effective method for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). All of the materials we used were earth-abundant and inexpensive. In this work, employing the interaction between DA and metal ions, Co2+ and iron (II) phthalocyanine (FePC) were loaded on the graphene oxide (GO). Moreover, the doping of N, reduction of GO and forming of Fe2O3 NPs, Co NPs were realized by one-step calcination method. Among the series of catalysts we synthesized, Fe2O3(1)-Co(1) NPs-N-GR exhibits better HER performance than other catalysts that we synthesized. Fe2O3(1)-Co(1) NPs-N-GR exhibits significant catalytic activity and excellent durability for HER in a wide pH range. The electrocatalytic performance of Fe2O3(1)-Co(1) NPs-N-GR toward HER is better in acidic solution (0.5 M H2SO4) than in alkaline solution (1.0 M NaOH), the onset overpotential is 0.36 V, Tafel slope is 66 mV dec−1 and current densities of 10 mA cm−2 at overpotential is 0.39 V. The excellent HER catalytic performance of Fe2O3(1)-Co(1) NPs-N-GR stem from its unique composition and structural properties by combining Fe2O3-Co nanoparticles and N co-doped graphene. This work provides a new valuable idea for the design of highly active bimetallic N-doped graphene electrocatalyst for HER.