Recent Progress on Molybdenum Carbide-Based Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution: A Review

Zhaoyu Zhou (), Yongsheng Jia, Qiang Wang, Zhongyu Jiang, Junwu Xiao () and Limin Guo
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Zhaoyu Zhou: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Yongsheng Jia: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Qiang Wang: 2020 X-Lab, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changning Road 865, Shanghai 200050, China
Zhongyu Jiang: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Junwu Xiao: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Limin Guo: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: Hydrogen is an ideal alternative energy for fossil fuels to solve aggravating environmental and energy problems. Electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) driven by renewable electricity (sunlight, wind, tide, etc.) is considered to be one of the most promising approaches for hydrogen production. However, its large-scale applications are greatly limited by the use of noble platinum (Pt) group electrocatalysts. As an earth-abundant/non-noble HER catalyst, molybdenum carbide (Mo x C: MoC or Mo 2 C) has attracted extensive attention in the field of sustainable hydrogen production due to its excellent Pt-like catalytic activity, low cost, high chemical stability, and natural abundance. In this review, the progress on the strategies for optimizing the catalytic activity of Mo x C is summarized, including optimization of synthesis methods, composites with carbon material, non-precious metal doping, transition metal doping, construction of the heterogeneous structure, etc. Among them, the importance of sulphur-doping, Ni-doping, and heterophase structure on molybdenum carbide-based catalysts for enhancement of HER activity has been highlighted. In addition, molybdenum carbide-based bi-functional catalysts are presented for the application in full water splitting. Finally, several effective strategies for molybdenum carbide-based catalyst design are concluded, and challenges remained in electrocatalytic water splitting are raised. Future development trends and perspectives for this promising material are also discussed.

Keywords: molybdenum carbide; hydrogen evolution reaction; electrolysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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