A 2D free-standing film-inspired electrocatalyst for highly efficient hydrogen production

The development of self-supporting binder-free catalysts is of great significance for the practical application of the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In this work, we report a rationally assembled two dimensional (2D) free-standing film based on 1D molybdenum carbide nanoribbons between nitrogen doped graphene nanolayers (Mo₂C nanoribbon/N-G). Due to multichannel and expeditious charge and mass transport, the integrated Mo₂C nanoribbon/N-G film exhibits a remarkable HER performance with a low onset potential of 84 mV (vs. the RHE), a small Tafel slope of 57 mV dec^-1, and an overpotential of 162 mV (vs. the RHE) to reach a current density of 10 mA cm^-2, superior to most transition metal based free-standing catalysts reported previously. This work provides a great advance for designing and fabricating cost-effective, applicable catalysts for hydrogen evolution and water splitting.