One-pot synthesis of molybdenum carbide/N-doped carbon nanotube composite using nitrilotriacetic acid for efficient hydrogen evolution

Abstract A composite of MoCx nanoparticles dispersed in nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube (MoCx/NCNT) was prepared by a simple method comprising annealing MoCl5, CNT, and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) in one-pot at 700 °C under argon atmosphere. The NTA enables simultaneous formation of carbide and N-doped CNT by acting as carbon and nitrogen sources. The resultant MoCx/NCNT showed high activity in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with a small overpotential of 136 mV at current density of 10 mA/cm2 and good stability for 3000 potential cycles. The high HER performance of MoCx/NCNT was probably due to synergistic effect between highly active MoCx phase and the NCNT providing large surface area and high electrical conductivity.