P Doped MoO₃₋<i>_x</i> Nanosheets as Efficient and Stable Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

A P doped MoO_3-_x nanocomposite material with rich oxygen vacancies is successfully fabricated by a two-step intercalation method, which presents superior activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction with low overpotential and fast electron transfer. In 0.5 m H₂ SO₄ , it displays an overpotential of 166 mV for driving the current density of 10 mA cm^-2 . Moreover, it also shows a good catalytic stability in the electrolytes with different pH, 0.5 m H₂ SO₄ (strong acid), 0.5 m Na₂ SO₄ (neutral solution), and 0.1 m NaOH (strong base). The superior catalytic activity and stability are due to to the synergistic effect between the P element doping and the oxygen vacancies.