Metal–Carbon Hybrid Electrocatalysts Derived from Ion‐Exchange Resin Containing Heavy Metals for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction |
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| Authors: | Yucheng Zhou Weijia Zhou Dongman Hou Guoqiang Li Jinquan Wan Chunhua Feng Zhenghua Tang Shaowei Chen |
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| Affiliation: | 1. New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, P. R. China;2. State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, P. R. China;3. The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, P. R. China;4. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA |
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| Abstract: | Transition metal–carbon hybrids have been proposed as efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic media. Herein, effective HER electrocatalysts based on metal–carbon composites are prepared by controlled pyrolysis of resin containing a variety of heavy metals. For the first time, Cr2O3 nanoparticles of 3–6 nm in diameter homogeneously dispersed in the resulting porous carbon framework (Cr–C hybrid) is synthesized as efficient HER electrocatalyst. Electrochemical measurements show that Cr–C hybrids display a high HER activity with an onset potential of ?49 mV (vs reversible hydrogen electrode), a Tafel slope of 90 mV dec?1, a large catalytic current density of 10 mA cm?2 at ?123 mV, and the prominent electrochemical durability. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurements confirm that electron transfer occurs from Cr2O3 into carbon, which is consistent with the reported metal@carbon systems. The obtained correlation between metals and HER activities may be exploited as a rational guideline in the design and engineering of HER electrocatalysts. |
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| Keywords: | chromic oxide electrocatalysts electron transfer hydrogen evolution reaction ion‐exchange reaction |
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