CoN/MoC embedded in nitrogen-doped multi-channel carbon nanofibers as an efficient acidic and alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts

Electrochemical water splitting has been extensively studied as a promising method for the production of clean and sustainable hydrogen fuels. However, the lack of low-cost and high-performance electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has hindered their large-scale applications. Herein, one-dimensional (1D) CoN and MoC nanoparticles embedded in N-doped multi-channel carbon nanofibers (CoN/MoC/NMCNFs) are constructed by electrospinning technology coupled with carbonization process. The electronic structure of MoC is optimized by the interaction between CoN and MoC to improve the intrinsic activity of MoC. Owing to their excellent intrinsic activity, multi-channel structure, abundant active sites, and inhibitory effect of carbon on nanoparticles; CoN/MoC/NMCNFs exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performances in both acidic and alkaline environments, only 199.2 mV and 92.5 mV are respectively required to drive a current density of 10 mA cm−2. The average diameter and the specific surface areas of CoN/MoC/NMCNFs are 1.1 μm and 13.7 mg m−2, respectively. The catalytic activity of CoN/MoC/NMCNFs does not significantly change after 1000 and 2000 cycles of CV curve tests under alkaline and acid electrolysis conditions, respectively. This work provides a new idea for synthesis of simple, efficient, low-cost and non-Pt-based electrocatalysts.