WO3–x Nanoplates Grown on Carbon Nanofibers for an Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

• Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces 2016-07, Vol.8 (28), p.18132-18139
• Main Authors: Chen, JiaDong, Yu, DanNi, Liao, WeiSha, Zheng, MengDan, Xiao, LongFei, Zhu, Han, Zhang, Ming, Du, MingLiang, Yao, JuMing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1944-8244; 1944-8252
• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b05245

The search for non-noble metal catalysts with high activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for efficient hydrogen production at low cost and on a large scale. Herein, we report a novel WO3–x catalyst synthesized on carbon nanofiber mats (CFMs) by electrospinning and followed by a carbonization process in a tubal furnace. The morphology and composition of the catalysts were tailored via a simple method, and the hybrid catalyst mats were used directly as cathodes to investigate their HER performance. Notably, the as-prepared catalysts exhibit substantially enhanced activity for the HER, demonstrating a small overpotential, a high exchange current density, and a large cathodic current density. The remarkable electrocatalytic performances result from the poor crystallinity of WO3–x , the high electrical conductivity of WO3–x , and the use of electrospun CNFs. The present work outlines a straightforward approach for the synthesis of transition metal oxide (TMO)-based carbon nanofiber mats with promising applications for the HER.