N-doped graphene supported W2C/WC as efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Tungsten carbides (W2C and WC) materials, as promising non-precious electrocatalysts, possess highly efficient activity for HER. Herein, N-doped graphene supported tungsten carbide (N-W2C/WC) nanocomposite is synthesized by spray drying process followed with a two-step pyrolysis treatment, which exhibits a remarkable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity and excellent stability in acidic solution and alkaline solution. N-W2C/WC displays low overpotentials of 166 mV and 125 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm(-2) and small Tafel slopes of 60.97 and 62.66 mV dec(-1) in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1.0 M KOH, respectively. After 1000 cycles, the electrocatalytic activity of N-W2C/WC is almost no change in acidic media but slightly decreases in alkaline media. This work might pro-vide a new way to explore high comprehensive performance tungsten-based electro-catalyst for HER. (C) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The N-doped graphene supported tungsten carbide nanocomposite exhibited remarkable hydrogen evolution reaction activity and stability in both acidic and alkaline solutions. The electrocatalytic activity of the material remained stable after 1000 cycles in acidic media and slightly decreased in alkaline media, showing potential as a promising non-precious electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction.