α-MoC1−x nanorods as an efficient hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalyst

Abstract

As one class of efficient non-precious metal catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), molybdenum carbides have attracted much attention in recent decades. Efforts have been devoted to the structure and phase modulation to further enhance their performances in the HER. In this study, owing to its superior capability for H₂O dissociation, a pure phase of α-MoC_1−x with an fcc structure was synthesized, which proved to be more active than β-Mo₂C with an hcp structure for H₂ evolution. To further improve the electrocatalytic activity, porous α-MoC_1−x nanorods were synthesized via controlled carburization of MoO₃ nanorod precursors. Benefiting from their more exposed active sites and facilitated mass and charge transfer, α-MoC_1−x nanorods exhibited significantly enhanced HER performance under both acidic and alkaline conditions, paving the way for α-MoC_1−x as effective electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions.