Transition metal electrocatalysts encapsulated into N-doped carbon nanotubes on reduced graphene oxide nanosheets: efficient water splitting through synergistic effects

Abstract

The development of efficient noble-metal free electrocatalysts is crucial for clean hydrogen production through water splitting. As carbon-based supports are expected to play a major role in low cost electrocatalysis, improved synthetic methods and a deeper understanding of their mechanisms of action are now required. To this end, we synthesized transition metal catalysts for overall water splitting encapsulated into nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (M–N-CNTs, M = Ni, Co, Fe) through a direct and convenient pyrolysis of bulk g-C3N4. Fu Show more