Molybdenum Carbide Nanoparticles on Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Xerogel: Low-Cost Cathodes for Hydrogen Production by Alkaline Water Electrolysis.
Low-cost molybdenum carbide (Mo2 C) nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and on carbon xerogel (CXG) were prepared and their activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was evaluated in 8 m KOH aqueous electrolyte at 25-85 °C. Measurements of the HER by linear scan voltammetry allowed us to determine Tafel slopes of 71 and 74 mV dec(-1) at 25 °C for Mo2 C/CNT and Mo2 C/CXG, respectively. Stability tests were also performed, which showed the steady performance of the two electrocatalysts. Moreover, the HER kinetics at Mo2 C/CNT was enhanced significantly after the long-term stability tests. The specific activity of both materials was high, and a higher stability was obtained for the activated Mo2 C/CNT (40 A g(-1) at -0.40 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode).
CeFEMA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal. biljana.paunkovic@tecnico.ulisboa.pt.
Biljana
0000-0003-0203-4012
B
Šljukić
CeFEMA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal.
Diogo M F
0000-0002-7920-2638
DM
Santos
Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158, Belgrade, Serbia.
Milica
0000-0002-0518-8837
M
Vujković
CeFEMA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal.
Luís
0000-0002-5311-8462
L
Amaral
Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials - Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
Raquel P
0000-0003-3161-9642
RP
Rocha
CeFEMA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal.
César A C
0000-0001-7556-2858
CA
Sequeira
Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials - Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
José L
0000-0002-0395-8199
JL
Figueiredo
D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004566:Electrodes / Q000191:economics; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005782:Gels; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
D005782:Gels; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; C574181:molybdenum carbide; D014867:Water; D002244:Carbon; D006859:Hydrogen; D008982:Molybdenum
carbides; electrochemistry; hydrogen; molybdenum; supported catalysts