Superior performance of borocarbonitrides, B_xC_yN_z, as stable, low-cost metal-free electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

We report superior hydrogen evolution activity of metal-free borocarbonitride (BCN) catalysts.

Tuning dissociation using isoelectronically doped graphene and hexagonal boron nitride: Water and other small molecules

“…Other studies have focused on exploiting this tuneability for catalysis of oxygen reduction reactions, [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] water transport, 34 and H 2 adsorption. [35][36][37] An important aspect to consider, if using graphene and h-BN based materials as catalysts, is their degree of selectivity. A high degree of selectivity is an extremely desirable property for any catalyst and indeed, the rational design of metalbased heterogeneous catalysts is the focus of intense research (see, e.g., Refs.…”

Transition Metal Dichalcogenides and Other Layered Materials

“…A mechanistic study reveals a four-electron pathway with comparable kinetic parameters and enhanced methanol-tolerance with respect to the Pt/C electrode [235]. Recently, a superior activity for electrocatalytic HER was reported in metal-free B x C y N z catalysts [236]. Of the samples with different compositions, carbon-rich BC 7 N 2 sample exhibited the best activity at par with Pt-catalyst (Figure 21(e)) with a highly positive onset potential of −56 mV vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a high current density of 10 mA cm −2 at an over potential of 70 mV [236].…”

“…Recently, a superior activity for electrocatalytic HER was reported in metal-free B x C y N z catalysts [236]. Of the samples with different compositions, carbon-rich BC 7 N 2 sample exhibited the best activity at par with Pt-catalyst (Figure 21(e)) with a highly positive onset potential of −56 mV vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a high current density of 10 mA cm −2 at an over potential of 70 mV [236]. The high performance of this composition has been ascribed to low proportion of insulating BN domains, high percentage of B-C bonds and larger proportion of pyridinic nitrogen.…”

“…[233] and (e) adapted from Ref. [236].) B x C y N z with tunable B/N codoping levels, synthesised by annealing GO in the presence of boric acid and ammonia, is an excellent electrocatalyst for ORR [234].…”

Facile Synthesis of Mo2C Nanocrystals Embedded in Nanoporous Carbon Network for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution

“…[3][4][5] It is therefore necessary to search for earth-abundant, cost-effective, and efficient alternatives for HER. In recent years, a wide range of non-Pt catalysts including oxides, [6] sulfides, [7][8][9][10][11] borides, [12][13][14] phosphides, [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] nitrides, [24][25][26] carbides, [12,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33] nanocarbons, [34][35][36][37] and their composites [38][39][40][41] have been extensively developed to catalyze HER. Among these options, molybdenumbased materials are the attractive ones due to their low cost and good performance.…”