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Well-dispersed molybdenum nitrides on a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix for highly efficient hydrogen evolution in alkaline media.
- Source :
- Journal of Materials Chemistry A; 10/21/2017, Vol. 5 Issue 39, p20932-20937, 6p
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Well-dispersed and highly efficient molybdenum nitrides on a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix (Mo<subscript>2</subscript>N@NC) are reported as a new and active electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution in alkaline electrolyte. The key point in fabricating this catalyst is using HNO<subscript>3</subscript>-treated melamine, other than pristine melamine, as carbon and nitrogen pools to realize the complete nitridation of MoO<subscript>3</subscript> to Mo<subscript>2</subscript>N nanoparticles of 4 nm size and at the same time to generate a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix to support these nanoparticles by thermolysis under an Ar atmosphere. The as-prepared Mo<subscript>2</subscript>N@NC exhibits excellent HER activity in 1 M KOH with a pretty low overpotential of 85 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm<superscript>−2</superscript> and a small Tafel slope of 54 mV dec<superscript>−1</superscript>, which is among the best for Mo-based compounds and better than those of most non-noble metal electrocatalysts to date in alkaline media. It is also much better than those of the incomplete nitride compounds (MoO<subscript>2</subscript>/Mo<subscript>2</subscript>N@NC) and the mixture of nitrides and carbides (Mo<subscript>2</subscript>N/Mo<subscript>2</subscript>C@NC) fabricated under similar conditions, from aspects of overpotential, Tafel slope, exchange current density, conductivity, active surface area and turnover frequencies. Therefore, Mo<subscript>2</subscript>N represents a new kind of very active HER catalyst in alkaline electrolyte. Also, this work provides an effective method to fabricate metal nitrides/carbon composites for other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20507488
- Volume :
- 5
- Issue :
- 39
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Materials Chemistry A
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 125587844
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1039/c7ta06981b