Coupled Sn/Mo2C nanoparticles wrapped in carbon nanofibers by electrospinning as high-performance electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract Constructing bimetallic carbon-based electrocatalysts of rational geometric structures has been an efficient method to improve the kinetics of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The reasonably designed bimetallic carbon-based electrocatalysts have low-cost and high electrocatalytic efficiency, which are promising to replace the platinum catalysts. Herein, the Sn/Mo2C composite nanoparticles were encapsulated in carbon nanofibers of a 2D structure (Sn/Mo2C-CNFs) have been successfully fabricated by a simple electrospinning and carbonization process. As a result, after turned the ratio of Sn and Mo2C into 1:3, the Sn/Mo2C-CNFs showed a superior HER performance with an overpotential of 144 mV in the current density of 10 mA⋅cm−2 in alkaline medium, the Tafel slope of 49.8 mV⋅dec-1, and operated stably for 60 h and 5000 circles. These excellent properties were mainly attributed to the special nanofiber structure and the synergism of Sn and Mo2C that enhanced the active sites and weakened the binding force of H proton and Mo2C. The present work provides an uncomplicated, efficient, and low-cost train of thought for resolving the problem of replacing the Pt-based catalysts with bimetallic materials.