In-Situ and controllable construction of Mo2N embedded Mo2C nanobelts as robust electrocatalyst for superior pH-universal hydrogen evolution reaction

The development of high active and cost-effective transition metal based catalysts as alternatives to Pt-based electrocatalysts for pH-universal hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is highly desirable. Herein, we proposed a novel strategy to construct Mo 2 N uniformly embedded Mo 2 C nanobelt arrays electrocatalyst on N doped carbon framework (Mo 2 N-Mo 2 C/NC NBAs) by nitridation of MoO x /C hybrid precursors and subsequent annealing. The effect of N content towards the composition ratio of Mo 2 N to Mo 2 C and the structural evolution were studied. The in-situ formed Mo 2 N reduces the sintering of Mo 2 C phase and creates amounts of compact Mo 2 N-Mo 2 C interfaces and mesopores. Because of these high active interfaces, mesopores structure and self-supported architecture, the resultant Mo 2 N-Mo 2 C/NC catalyst exhibits remarkable HER performance and durability over a wide pH range, as exemplified by a small overpotentials of 75, 93, and 114 mV at 10 mA cm −2 , and Tafel slopes of 43, 58, and 62 mV dec −1 in the alkaline, neutral and acidic media. The results reveal a new avenue to design highly efficient electrocatalysts with tailored hetero/microstructures, which could be extended to fabricate other high-performance electrocatalyst and electrode materials for electrochemical energy conversion.