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Well dispersed Fe2N nanoparticles on surface of nitrogen-doped reduced graphite oxide for highly efficient electrochemical hydrogen evolution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2017

Yi Zhang ,
Ying Xie ,
Yangtao Zhou ,
Xiuwen Wang  and
Kai Pan
Yi Zhang
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, People’s Republic of China
Ying Xie
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, People’s Republic of China
Yangtao Zhou
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, People’s Republic of China
Xiuwen Wang
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, People’s Republic of China
Kai Pan*
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, People’s Republic of China
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

It is important to fabricate iron-based nitride/conductive material composite to obtain good catalytic performance. In this work, Fe2N nanoparticles with diameter of approximately 30 nm have been successfully dispersed on the surface of nitrogen-doped graphite oxide (NrGO) by a facile sol–gel method and further ammonia atmosphere treatment. XPS, XRD, Raman, and TEM proved that Fe2N nanoparticles are well monodispersed, and nitrogen atoms are doped in NrGO. The composite possessed two merits, that is, the more catalytic active site in Fe2N nanoparticles due to the well monodispersion, and fast electron transfer due to the nitrogen dope in rGO. With the proper ratio, the composite exhibited brilliant catalytic activity and durability in acidic media. It possesses overpotential of 94 mV to approach 10 mA/cm2, a small Tefel slope of 49 mV/dec, and maintains the good electrocatalytic activity for 10 h. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated that the electrocatalyst possessed high catalytic active area and fast electron transfer. Our work may provide a new avenue for the preparation of low-cost iron-based nitride/NrGO composite for highly efficient electrochemical hydrogen evolution.

Keywords

nanostructurecatalyticnitride
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 32 , Issue 9 , 15 May 2017 , pp. 1770 - 1776
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Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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Footnotes

Contributing Editor: Xiaobo Chen

References

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