Defect-Rich FeN0.023/Mo2C Heterostructure as a Highly Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst for Overall Water-Splitting

The innovation in highly efficient, stable, and economical bifunctional overall water-splitting electrocatalysts is critical in developing sustainable energy, but it remains challenging. In this research, we have developed an unsophisticated method to synthesize hybrid nanoparticles (FeN0.023/Mo2C/C) uniformly dispersed in nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets. The two active components FeN0.023 and Mo2C are coupled to form an FeN0.023/Mo2C/C heterostructure being a highly efficient electrocatalyst, which gives low overpotentials of 227/76 mV for OER/HER at 10 mA cm(-2) current density. The alkaline-electrolyzer with FeN0.023/Mo2C/C as the anode-cathode catalyst needs merely 1.55 V to reach 10 mA cm(-2) and can maintain a stable state for a minimum of 10 h. This research gives a simple effective resolution in designing affordable and useful overall water-splitting electrocatalysts.

Automated summary

This research presents a simple method to synthesize a highly efficient bifunctional water-splitting electrocatalyst, which can achieve stable oxygen-evolution reaction and hydrogen-evolution reaction at relatively low overpotentials and maintain stable performance for at least 10 hours.