Carbon-covered tungsten carbide nanoparticles: Solid-state synthesis and application as stable electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Carbon-covered tungsten carbide nanoparticles(cc-WCNPs) were prepared via a one-step solid-state reaction between W(CO)₆ and triphenylamine at 850 °C under a sealed Ar atmosphere. As novel electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER), cc-WCNPs exhibit an onset potential of–0.14 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE) and a Tafel slope of 64.6 mV/dec in a 0.5 mol/L H₂SO₄ solution. Additionally, these cc-WCNPs catalysts also show excellent electrocatalytic stability after 1000 cycles.

Keywords

Hydrogen evolution reaction / Solid-state synthesis / Nanoparticle / Electrocatalysis

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