Molybdenum Carbide Anchored on Graphene Nanoribbons as Highly Efficient All-pH Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalyst

Abstract

The demand for exploiting hydrogen as a new energy source has driven the development of feasible, efficient, and low-cost electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in different reaction media. Herein, we report the synthesis of molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) nanoparticles anchored on graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) as HER electrocatalyst that can function well under acidic, basic, and neutral conditions. GNRs obtained by unzipping carbon nanotubes (CNTs) display strip-like structure, offering abundant active sites for growing Mo2C nanoparticles. Furthermore, GNRs could provide a fast electron transport pathway as well as large exposed surface area to allow full impregnation of electrolytes. Coupling with the anticorrosion feature of Mo2C nanoparticles, the Mo2C–GNR hybrid exhibits outstanding electrocatalytic performance in all of the acidic, basic, and neutral media, making it promising as a highly efficient electrocatalyst under conditions at all pH values.