Uniformly Decorated Molybdenum Carbide/Nitride Nanostructures on Biomass Templates for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Applications

Abstract

Natural fibrils derived from biomass were used as a template to synthesize uniformly decorated nanoparticles (10-12 nm) of molybdenum carbide (Mo₂C) and molybdenum nitride (Mo₂N) supported on carbon. The nanoparticles have been synthesized through the carburization and nitridation of molybdenum on cotton fibrils, using a high-temperature solid-state reaction. The catalyst exhibits an onset potential of 110 mV and an overpotential of 167 mV to derive a cathodic current density of 10 mA cm^-2. The electrocatalyst also demonstrates excellent long-term durability of more than 2500 cycles in acidic media with a Tafel slope value of 62 mV dec^-1.