Trimetallic Ni-Co-Mo Nanoparticles Supported on N-Doped Carbon as a Promising Electrocatalyst for the Methanol-Assisted Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Electrochemical water splitting is a promising technology for clean energy generation, specifically for hydrogen (H-2) production. However, the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is sluggish, motivating the exploration of alternative reactions, such as the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) to achieve efficient H-2 fuel production and value-added formate simultaneously. Therefore, the development of high-performance and cost-effective electrocatalysts is crucial for boosting the methanol-assisted hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In this study, we present a facile hydrothermal synthesis followed by annealing to fabricate a nitrogen (N)-doped carbon-supported Ni-Co-Mo oxide electrocatalyst. The electrochemical performance of the catalyst was evaluated using linear sweep voltammetry. Remarkably, the optimized catalyst, denoted as 450-NCMO@NC, demonstrated outstanding electrocatalytic activity for MOR (139 mV at 50 mA cm(-2)) and HER (220 mV at 50 mA cm(-2)) in 1.0 M KOH and 1.0 M CH3OH electrolyte, respectively. Moreover, the NCMO@NC-450 catalyst exhibited remarkable water splitting activity in a two-electrode cell, requiring only a cell potential of 1.544 V at 100 mA cm(-2) current density while maintaining long-term stability. The electrochemical performance of the catalyst was attributed to its high electrochemical surface area and uniform distribution of NiCoMo on the N-doped carbon matrix. The trimetallic surface served as active sites for catalytic reactions, facilitating charge transfer between the reactants and the electrode. Additionally, the synergistic effects between NiCoMoO4 and the N-doped carbon heterostructure promoted charge delocalization, ultimately enhancing the electrocatalytic performance and stability of the catalyst. Overall, our results demonstrate the great potential of N-doped carbon-supported Mo-Ni-Co oxide electrocatalysts for highly efficient methanol-assisted hydrogen production, positioning them as promising candidates for clean energy applications. The successful integration of N-doped carbon with the Ni-Co-Mo oxide catalyst offers innovative opportunities for the development of cost-effective and high-performance electrocatalysts in the field of sustainable energy.

Automated summary

This study presents a facile method of hydrothermal synthesis and annealing to fabricate a nitrogen-doped carbon-supported Ni-Co-Mo oxide electrocatalyst. The optimized catalyst demonstrates outstanding electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction, as well as remarkable stability.