High-Performance Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalyst Derived from Ni₃C Nanoparticles Embedded in a Porous Carbon...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Developing efficient and cost-effective catalysts is crucial for scalable hydrogen production.
• Nickel-based materials show promise for electrocatalytic applications but often require optimization for enhanced performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel nickel carbide/porous carbon composite (Ni3C@PCN) for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysis.
• To evaluate the electrocatalytic activity and durability of the Ni3C@PCN material in acidic media.

Main Methods:

• A facile self-foaming strategy was employed to synthesize Ni3C nanoparticles embedded in a porous carbon network.
• Electrochemical techniques were used to assess the catalytic performance, including onset potential, overpotential, Tafel slope, and durability.

Main Results:

• The synthesized Ni3C@PCN exhibited superior HER catalytic activity with an onset potential of -65 mV.
• Achieved a current density of 50 mA cm-2 at an overpotential of 262 mV and a Tafel slope of 63.4 mV/dec.
• Demonstrated excellent durability for the catalyst over 12 hours in acidic media.

Conclusions:

• The Ni3C@PCN composite is a highly effective and durable catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction.
• The low-cost nature and excellent performance suggest significant potential for large-scale, electrocatalytic hydrogen production.