Mo2C promoted electrocatalysis of the Pt/Mo2C (C) heterostructure for a superior hydrogen evolution reaction

Yixiang Ye; Yuande Shi; Jiannan Cai; Zhisheng Xiao; Zhongshui Li; Shen Lin

doi:10.1039/d2dt03822f

Mo₂C promoted electrocatalysis of the Pt/Mo₂C (C) heterostructure for a superior hydrogen evolution reaction

Dalton Trans. 2023 Mar 21;52(12):3682-3689. doi: 10.1039/d2dt03822f.

Authors

Yixiang Ye¹, Yuande Shi^{1

2}, Jiannan Cai^{1

2}, Zhisheng Xiao¹, Zhongshui Li^{1

2

3

4}, Shen Lin^{1

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China. zsli@fjnu.edu.cn.
² Fujian Provincial Key Lab of Coastal Basin Environment (Fujian Polytechnic Normal University), Fuqing 350300, China.
³ Fujian Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China.
⁴ Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou 350007, China.

PMID: 36848037
DOI: 10.1039/d2dt03822f

Abstract

Constructing a unique electrochemical interface to enhance the catalytic capacity of Pt-based catalysts is indispensable for wider application of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, platinum-analogous molybdenum carbide (Mo₂C) was combined with a lower content of Pt to construct the Pt/Mo₂C (C) heterostructure via a solid-phase method, using ammonium molybdate as the precursor. Vulcan-C served as a support to promote the distribution of the Pt and Mo₂C heterostructure, and cooperative effects between Pt and the Mo₂C heterostructure contributed to the significantly improved catalytic capacity of Pt. The obtained Pt/Mo₂C (C) exhibits superior HER activity and enhanced long-term durability in the acidic medium, with a low overpotential of 38 mV at 10 mA cm^-2 and a low Tafel slope of 24 mV dec^-1. In particular, a drastically enhanced amount of H₂ production can be achieved (6837.28 mmol h^-1 g^-1). This facile approach not only provides a new pathway for constructing novel heterostructures but also gives an insight into the design of cost-effective Pt-based materials for an efficient HER.