Robust Porous WC-Based Self-Supported Ceramic Electrodes for High Current Density Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Economical, durable, and efficient electrodes are crucial for large-scale electrochemical hydrogen production.
• Platinum (Pt) is a benchmark catalyst but is expensive for widespread industrial application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective and highly efficient electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
• To investigate the performance and durability of a novel tungsten carbide-based electrode under demanding conditions.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a self-supported WC porous electrode with in situ formation of a nitrogen-doped WC/W (WC-N/W) heterostructure.
• Electrochemical testing of the WC-N/W electrode for HER performance and durability in acidic and alkaline media across a range of current densities (30-1000 mA cm⁻²).
• Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate the mechanism behind the enhanced performance.

Main Results:

• The WC-N/W electrode exhibited excellent durability and stability for over 220 hours under multi-step current densities.
• The electrode demonstrated hydrogen evolution reaction performance comparable to Pt electrodes at high current densities.
• DFT calculations confirmed that the electrode's structure and modulated electronic structure at the WC-N/W interface contribute to its superior performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed WC-N/W electrode is a promising, economical, and robust alternative to Pt for large-scale hydrogen production.
• The in situ formed nitrogen-doped heterostructure significantly enhances the electrocatalytic activity and stability.
• This research paves the way for more sustainable and affordable hydrogen energy technologies.