Journal
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
Volume 7, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13216
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Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [51472173, 51522208, 51222202, 21522305]
- National Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province [BK20140302, SBK2015010320, BK20150045]
- National '973' Program of China [2014CB932500]
- Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology
- NSERC Canada
- CFI
- NSERC
- NRC
- CIHR
- University of Saskatchewan
- Government of Saskatchewan
- Western Economic Diversification Canada
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Earlier research has been primarily focused on WC as one of the most promising earth-abundant electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), whereas the other compound in this carbide family-W2C-has received far less attention. Our theoretical calculations suggest that such a focus is misplaced and W2C is potentially more HER-active than WC. Nevertheless, the preparation of phase pure and sintering-free W2C nanostructures represents a formidable challenge. Here we develop an improved carburization method and successfully prepare ultrasmall and phase-pure W2C nanoparticles. When evaluated for HER electrocatalysis, W2C nanoparticles exhibit a small onset overpotential of 50 mV, a Tafel slope of 45 mV dec(-1) and outstanding long-term cycling stability, which are dramatically improved over all existing WC-based materials. In addition, the integration of W2C nanoparticles with p-type Si nanowires enables highly active and sustainable solar-driven hydrogen production. Our results highlight the great potential of this traditionally non-popular material in HER electrocatalysis.
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