Facile synthesis of molybdenum carbide nanoparticles in situ decorated on nitrogen-doped porous carbons for hydrogen evolution reaction

Molybdenum-based electrocatalysts are promising candidates of platinum (Pt)-based materials in electro-catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), due to their cost-efficient and resembled electronic properties. Reported herein is the preparation of molybdenum carbide nanoparticles uniformly decorated on nitrogen-modified carbons (Mo2C/NC) through the carbonization of Mo-based polymers under hydrogen atmosphere by using poly(p-phenylenediamine) and ammonium heptamolybdate polymer analogue as precursors. And the molybdenum nitride nanoparticles loaded on porous N-doped carbons (Mo2N/NC) are also fabricated by calcination the polymer precursors in nitrogen gas. The Mo2C/NC shows more excellent electrocatalytic activity than Mo2N/NC in 0.5 M H2SO4, together with robust long-term durability. The well-crystalline nanoparticles and the increased electron conductivity are the main characters responded for the high catalytic efficiency of the fabricated electrocatalysts. This easily fabrication procedure may provide a facile route to prepare non-noble metal carbide/nitride catalysts featuring well-engineered structural and textural peculiarities for realistic energy conversion system. (c) 2018 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.