Modulating the electronic structure of Mo species by forming Cr2O3/MoN interface for boosted electrocatalytic HER performance

Abstract

• Cr 2 O 3 /MoN interface nanosheet electrocatalyst is facilely designed and synthesized. • The electronic structure of Mo atom is optimized by creating Cr 2 O 3 /MoN interface. • The constructed Cr 2 O 3 /MoN exhibits a promising HER activity alkaline environment. Hydrogen production from water splitting in alkaline solution has been hampered by the cleavage of strong OH-H bond with high energy barrier. Herein, we develop the Cr 2 O 3 /MoN interface nanosheets for hydrogen evolution in basic media. The creation of the interface between Cr 2 O 3 and MoN crystal effectively tunes the electronic structure of Mo atom, making it easier to accelerate the dissociation of water molecule. Consequently, the Cr 2 O 3 /MoN interface electrocatalyst delivers the current density of 10 mA cm −2 at the overpotential of 30 mV and the Tafel slope is 61.3 mV dec -1 together with robust durability, providing an efficient avenue to improve electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity in basic solution.