Construction of Ni2P-MoC/Coal-Based Carbon Fiber Self-Supporting Catalysts for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2024-01, Vol.29 (1), p.116
• Main Authors: Jia, Xinyue, Lou, Mengran, Wang, Yang, Wang, Ruiying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon fibers; Coal; coal-based carbon fibers; Composite materials; electrocatalysis; Electrodes; Energy; Hydrogen; hydrogen evolution reaction; molybdenum carbide; Nanoparticles; nickel phosphide; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectrum analysis; Temperature
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules29010116

Efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts play an important role in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of electrolytic water splitting. Herein, Ni2P-MoC/coal-based carbon fiber (Ni2P-MoC/C-CF) self-supporting catalysts were obtained by low-temperature phosphorization and high-temperature carbonization. The Mo source and oxidized coal were uniformly dispersed in the carbon support by electrospinning technology. A precursor of Ni was introduced by the impregnation method. The synergistic effect of MoC and Ni2P may reduce the strong hydrogen adsorption capacity of pure MoC and provide a fast hydrogen release process. In addition, the C-CFs prepared by electrospinning can not only prevent the agglomeration of MoC and Ni2P particles at a high temperature but also provide a self-supporting support for the catalyst. As a result, the catalytic performance of the HER was improved greatly, and a low overpotential of 112 mV at 10 mA cm−2 was exhibited stably by the Ni2P-MoC/C-CFs. This work not only converts coal into coal-based carbon materials but also provides a feasible pathway for the rational design of large-scale molded hydrogen electrocatalysts.