Coupled Sn/Mo2C nanoparticles wrapped in carbon nanofibers by electrospinning as high-performance electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Constructing bimetallic carbon-based electrocatalysts of rational geometric structures has been an efficient method to improve the kinetics of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The reasonably designed bimetallic carbon-based electrocatalysts have low-cost and high electrocatalytic efficiency, which are promising to replace the platinum catalysts. Herein, the Sn/Mo 2 C composite nanoparticles were encapsulated in carbon nanofibers of a 2D structure (Sn/Mo 2 C-CNFs) have been successfully fabricated by a simple electrospinning and carbonization process. As a result, after turned the ratio of Sn and Mo 2 C into 1:3, the Sn/Mo 2 C-CNFs showed a superior HER performance with an overpotential of 144 mV in the current density of 10 mA⋅cm −2 in alkaline medium, the Tafel slope of 49.8 mV⋅dec -1 , and operated stably for 60 h and 5000 circles. These excellent properties were mainly attributed to the special nanofiber structure and the synergism of Sn and Mo 2 C that enhanced the active sites and weakened the binding force of H proton and Mo 2 C. The present work provides an uncomplicated, efficient, and low-cost train of thought for resolving the problem of replacing the Pt-based catalysts with bimetallic materials.