Waste paper derived Co, N co-doped carbon as an efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution

Abstract

As a renewable resource, waste paper cannot only be recycled to paper, but also can be used as a new carbon source in the material field. In the present study, starting from the abundant and inexpensive materials, the three-dimensional (3D) framework cobalt (Co) and nitrogen (N) doped (Cox–N–C) electrocatalyst was successfully prepared using waste paper and urea via a facile hydrothermal treatment and ion adsorption process, followed by a further pyrolysis step. The experimental results show that the as-prepared Cox–N–C materials exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Especially, Co1.2–N–C sample has an outstanding HER catalytic activity with a 223 mV overpotential (at j = 10 mA cm−2), 91 mV dec−1 Tafel slope, and a remarkable long-term stability in 0.5 M H2SO4. Note that the abundant Co–N active sites are responsible for enhancing HER activity of Cox–N–C sample. It is expected that the low cost and highly efficient Co1.2–N–C electrocatalyst is a promising candidate to replace Pt noble catalysts.