Graphene Layer Encapsulation of Non-Noble Metal Nanoparticles as Acid-Stable Hydrogen Evolution Catalysts

Abstract

Acid-stable, non-noble catalysts are promising for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER); however, they get easily damaged when used in acidic electrolytes, thus reducing the HER lifetimes. Moreover, completely blocking catalysts from acidic electrolytes degrades HER performance. To achieve a balance between the HER lifetime and performance, we vary the number of N-doped graphene layers (1–2, 2–3, and 3–5 layers) encapsulating NiMo nanoparticles as efficient HER catalysts and obtain the optimal number of protective layers. Our data show that 3–5 graphene layers achieved the best balance, with a stable current density of 100 mA cm–2 for 25 h in 0.5 M H2SO4. Density functional theory calculations are performed to show the effect of encapsulating graphene layer number on the catalytic activity and protection of non-noble NiMo in acidic electrolytes.