Co-, N-, and S-Tridoped Carbon Derived from Nitrogen- and Sulfur-Enriched Polymer and Cobalt Salt for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

A series of cobalt and heteroatom (N and/or S) doped carbon materials were prepared and explored as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The most active catalyst is a Co-, N-, and S-tridoped carbon (CoNS-C), which was prepared through heat treatment of nitrogen- and sulfur-enriched poly(m-aminobenzenesulfonic acid) and cobalt(II) nitrate, followed by acid leaching. The presence of cobalt-heteroatom complexes in CoNS-C is confirmed and identified as highly active molecule catalytic centers for HER. The overpotential of CoNS-C is 180 mV at 10 mA cm(-2) in 0.5 M aqueous H2SO4. Besides the high HER activity, the CoNS-C also shows excellent durability and can be produced readily in large quantities. This work may have provided a new and simple route in the design and batch-synthesis of highly active and durable carbonaceous electrocatalysts for HER.