In Situ Synthesis of MoP Nanoflakes Intercalated N-Doped Graphene Nanobelts from MoO3-Amine Hybrid for High-Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Molybdenum phosphide (MoP) is a promising non-noble-metal electrocatalyst in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), but practical implementation is impeded by the sluggish HER kinetics and poor chemical stability. Herein, a novel high-efficiency HER electrocatalyst comprising MoP nanoflakes intercalated nitrogen-doped graphene nanobelts (MoP/NG), which are synthesized by one-step thermal phosphiding organic-inorganic hybrid dodecylamine (DDA) inserted MoO3 nanobelts, is reported. The intercalated DDA molecules are in situ carbonized into the NG layer and the sandwiched MoO3 layer is converted into MoP nanoflakes which are intercalated between the NG layers forming the alternatingly stacked MoP/NG hybrid nanobelts. The MoP nanoflakes provide abundant edge sites and the sandwiched MoP/NG hybrid enables rapid ion/electron transport thus yielding excellent electrochemical activity and stability for HER. The MoP/NG shows a low overpotential of 94 mV at 10 mA cm(-2), small Tafel slope of 50.1 mV dec(-1), and excellent electrochemical stability with 99.5% retention for over 22 h.