Efficient Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Using Heteroatom-Doped MXene Nanosheet

It is crucial to develop a low-cost hybrid electrocatalysts for hydrogen production. Due to their layered structure and strong electrical conductivity, MXene-based materials have been lately used more and more in energy storage devices. Herein, heteroatom- (boron and sulfur-) doped MXene (B, S-Ti3C2Tx) nanosheets are developed as efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The synthesized B, S-Ti3C2Tx has a large surface area and exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity in acidic media. The prepared B, S-2-Ti3C2Tx catalyst exhibits a low overpotential of -110 mV vs. reversible hydrogen electrode for the HER and a low Tafel slope of similar to 54 mV dec(-1). Furthermore, B, S-2-Ti3C2Tx shows a double-layer capacitance of 1.05 mF/cm(2) and maintains a steady catalytic activity for the HER for over 1000 cycles.

Automated summary

Developing a low-cost hybrid electrocatalyst for hydrogen production is crucial. MXene-based materials with layered structure and strong electrical conductivity have been increasingly used in energy storage devices. In this study, heteroatom- (boron and sulfur-) doped MXene (B, S-Ti3C2Tx) nanosheets were synthesized and demonstrated as efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The synthesized B, S-Ti3C2Tx exhibited a large surface area and excellent electrocatalytic activity in acidic media, with low overpotential and Tafel slope, as well as maintaining steady catalytic activity over 1000 cycles.