Rational design of Ni-induced NC @Mo2C@MoS2 sphere electrocatalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic and alkaline media

Exploiting efficient and low-cost electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) of water electrolysis remains a challenge. Herein, we designed an efficient electrocatalyst of Ni-induced nitrogen-doped carbon @ molybdenum carbide @ molybdenum disulfide sphere (NC@Mo₂C@MoS₂-(Ni)) by two simple coating steps following pyrolysis process. Benefiting from the regular spherical morphology, unique structure, synergistic effect between Mo₂C and MoS₂, inducement effect of elemental Ni that initial added and removed in final synthesis procedure, heteroatom N and P doping. The catalyst NC@Mo₂C@MoS₂-(Ni) exhibits relatively good catalytic performance of overpotentials of 205 and 216 mV at 10 mA cm^?2 and Tafel slopes of 61.4 and 42.7 mV dec^?1 in acidic and basic media, respectively. This work not only fabricate the electrocatalyst of NC@Mo₂C@MoS₂-(Ni) towards HER, but also provides a way to rationally design more efficient other functional electrocatalysts.