Metal–Carbon Hybrid Electrocatalysts Derived from Ion‐Exchange Resin Containing Heavy Metals for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201503100
• Publication Date: 2016-04-10T17:49:50Z
• Authors: Yucheng Zhou; Weijia Zhou; Dongman Hou; Guoqiang Li; Jinquan Wan; Chunhua Feng; Zhenghua Tang; Shaowei Chen
• Keywords: Carbon fibers; Exchange current density

Transition metal–carbon hybrids have been proposed as efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic media. Herein, effective HER based on composites are prepared by controlled pyrolysis of resin containing a variety heavy metals. For the first time, Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles 3–6 nm diameter homogeneously dispersed resulting porous carbon framework (Cr–C hybrid) is synthesized electrocatalyst. Electrochemical measurements show that Cr–C display high activity with an onset potential −49 mV (vs reversible electrode), Tafel slope 90 dec −1 , large catalytic current density 10 mA cm −2 at −123 mV, and prominent electrochemical durability. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic confirm electron transfer occurs from into carbon, which consistent reported metal@carbon systems. The obtained correlation between metals activities may be exploited rational guideline design engineering electrocatalysts.