Molybdenum Nitride Thin Films Coated Cobalt-Metal-Organic Framework Nanocolumns for High-Efficiency Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

The sustainable development of catalysts with Pt-like catalytic activity to produce hydrogen economically from water electrolysis is essential and challenging. Herein, we have prepared a novel catalyst with the combined virtues of nanocolumn structures and heterojunctions by magnetron sputtering molybdenum nitride (Mo2N) thin films over cobalt-metal-organic framework (Co-MOF) nanocolumns on carbon paper (CP), and explored the catalytic activities in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). By optimizing the preparation process, the heterostructured Co-MOF@Mo2N/CP catalyst can exhibit an excellent HER performance with an overpotential of only 72.8 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and cycling durability over 24 h and 5000 cycles, achieving one of the best performances among state-of-the-art Mo-based catalysts. This work guides and accelerates the design of low-cost and high-performance transition metal nitrides HER catalysts for advanced applications.

Keywords: Mo2N thin film, Metal-organic framework, Magnetron sputtering, Heterostructure, Hydrogen evolution reaction