Nano-MOF-5 (Zn) Derived Porous Carbon as Support Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

The design of an efficient electrocatalyst with controlled morphology and structural characteristics remain a challenging task for advanced electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein a simple method is utilized to improve the HER activity by introducing Fe/Pt bimetallic nanoparticles supported on highly porous carbon (PC) viz. one step carbonization of Nano-MOF-5(Zn) as precursor (metal organic framework). The as prepared Nano MOF-5(Zn), Fe/Pt−PC and PC derived from MOF were characterized by various techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, BET (nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The developed Fe−Pt/PC exhibits an optimal HER performance with low overpotential (85.4 mV) and a Tafel slope of 42.4 mV dec−1. The electrochemical results show that the developed material provides a viable approach for developing inexpensive Pt-based catalyst for HER.