Bimetallic Co/Mo2C Nanoparticles Embedded in 3D Hierarchical N-doped Carbon Heterostructures as Highly Efficient Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting

Graphical Bifunctional electrocatalysts : The bimetallic Co/Mo 2 C nanoparticles wrapped in N-doped carbon heterostructures can significantly boost the OER and HER performance for the modulation of the intrinsic electronic structures and construction of the geometric structures. This work not only provides a facile and practical strategy to construct an affordable and highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst but also inspires future work in the rational design of composites and nanostructures. Modulating intrinsic electronic and geometric structures of bimetallic electrocatalysts has been regarded as a promising strategy to effectively solve the sluggish kinetics and large overpotential of OER (Oxygen evolution reaction) and HER (Hydrogen evolution reaction) involved in future large-scale electricity-to-hydrogen generation. Here, the bifunctional Co/Mo 2 C electrocatalysts encapsulated in 3D hierarchical nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers synchronously rooted with abundant carbon nanotubes (Co/Mo 2 C-NCNTs) were successfully fabricated by a facile electrospinning method. Due to the unique heterostructures and strong synergetic effects between Co and Mo 2 C nanoparticles to improve OH − affinity, moderate Mo−H bonds, and expose more active sites, the Co/Mo 2 C-NCNTs displayed a tiny overpotential for OER ( η 10 =310 mV) and HER ( η 10 =170 mV) and stably operated for 24 h. Moreover, the results of a water electrolysis device demonstrated that the faradaic efficiency was close to 100 %, which further proved that this method was feasible and effective to fabricate high-efficiency bifunctional non-noble electrocatalysts for water splitting.