Tuning Binding Strength of Multiple Intermediates towards Efficient pH-universal Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution by Mo8 O26 -NbNx Oy Heterocatalysts.

Abstract

Developing efficient and robust hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts for scalable and sustainable hydrogen production through electrochemical water splitting is strategic and challenging. Herein, heterogeneous Mo8 O26 -NbNx Oy supported on N-doped graphene (defined as Mo8 O26 -NbNx Oy /NG) is synthesized by controllable hydrothermal reaction and nitridation process. The O-exposed Mo8 O26 clusters covalently confined on NbNx Oy nanodomains provide a distinctive interface configuration and appropriate electronic structure, where fully exposed multiple active sites give excellent HER performance beyond commercial Pt/C catalyst in pH-universal electrolytes. Theoretical studies reveal that the Mo8 O26 -NbNx Oy interface with electronic reconstruction affords near-optimal hydrogen adsorption energy and enhanced initial H2 O adsorption. Furthermore, the terminal O atoms in Mo8 O26 clusters cooperate with Nb atoms to promote the initial H2 O adsorption, and subsequently reduce the H2 O dissociation energy, accelerating the entire HER kinetics.