Mo2C nanoparticles decorated graphitic carbon sheets: Biopolymer-derived solid-state synthesis and application as an efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen generation

Abstract

The present work reports on the preparation of Mo2C nanoparticles decorated graphitic carbon sheets (Mo2C/GCSs) via a biopolymer-derived solid-state reaction between (NH4) 6Mo7O24·4H2O and sodium alginate at 900 °C under Ar. As a novel hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalytst, the Mo2C/GCSs hybrids exhibit high activity in acidic solutions with an onset potential of 120 mV, a Tafel slope of 62.6 mV dec-1, and an exchange current density of 12.5 × 10 -3 mA cm-2. Moreover, such Mo2C/GCSs catalysts also show excellent durability during long-term 3000 cycles. © 2014 American Chemical Society.