Polyoxometalate-based metal–organic framework-derived hybrid electrocatalysts for highly efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

The design and fabrication of electrocatalysts for HER, with superior activity and stability, still remain a significant challenge for clean and renewable energy technologies. Here we have synthesized Fe₃C/Mo₂C-containing N, P co-doped graphitic carbon derived from POM@MOF-100 (Fe) (denoted as Fe₃C/Mo₂C@NPGC) via a “killing three birds with one stone” strategy. The Fe₃C/Mo₂C@NPGC catalyst demonstrates excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability towards HER with a low onset overpotential of 18 mV (vs. RHE), small Tafel slope of 45.2 mV dec⁻¹, as well as long-term durability for 10 h, which is one of the best non-noble metal HER catalysts in acidic media reported so far. Most importantly, this work opens up exciting opportunities for fabricating novel and highly efficient electrocatalysts to replace Pt or Pt-based catalysts utilizing POM-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as precursors.