Tungsten-Assisted Phase Tuning of Molybdenum Carbide for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Phase tuning during crystal phase transformation is an important but challenging step toward the development of effective hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts. Herein, we report on a feasible approach to achieve effective polycrystalline molybdenum carbides during transformation from α-phase to β-phase through the regulation of additive (tungsten) amount. Benefiting from the optimal Mo–C bond lengths and abundant active sites, molybdenum carbide prepared with a moderate addition of tungsten enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability compared with pure α-phase and β-phase Mo 2 C in the HER, and only required an overpotential of 148 and 93 mV to drive 20 mA cm –2 of current density in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 and 1.0 M KOH, respectively.