Atomic H-Induced Mo_2C Hybrid as an Active and Stable Bifunctional Electrocatalyst

Abstract

Mo_2C nanocrystals (NCs) anchored on vertically aligned graphene nanoribbons (VA-GNR) as hybrid nanocatalysts (Mo_2C-GNR) are synthesized through the direct carbonization of metallic Mo with atomic H treatment. The growth mechanism of Mo2C NCs with atomic H treatment is discussed. The Mo_2C-GNR hybrid exhibits highly active and durable electrocatalytic performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). For HER, in an acidic solution the Mo_2C-GNR has an onset potential of 39 mV and a Tafel slope of 65 mV dec^(-1), in a basic solution Mo_2C-GNR has an onset potential of 53 mV, and Tafel slope of 54 mV dec^(-1). It is stable in both acidic and basic media. Mo2C-GNR is a high activity ORR catalyst with a high peak current density of 2.01 mA cm^(-2), an onset potential of 0.94 V that is more positive vs reversible hydrogen electrode, a high electron transfer number n (∼3.86) and long-term stability.