An In-Plane Heterostructure Ni3N/MoSe2 Loaded on Nitrogen-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide Enhances the Catalyst Performance for Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction

Non-noble metal electrocatalysts for the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) that are both highly active and low-cost are essential for the widespread use of fuel cells. Herein, a simple two-step method for creating an in-plane heterostructure of Ni₃N/MoSe₂ loaded on N-doped reduced graphene oxide (Ni₃N/MoSe₂@N-rGO) as an effective electrocatalyst for the HOR is described. The process involves hydrothermal treatment of the Ni and Mo precursors with N-doped reduced graphene oxide, followed by the annealing with urea. The Ni₃N/MoSe₂@N-rGO catalyst exhibits high activities for the HOR, with current densities of 2.15 and 3.06 mA cm^-2 at 0.5 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in H₂-saturated 0.1 M KOH and 0.1 M HClO₄ electrolytes, respectively, which is comparable to a commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst under similar experimental conditions. Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrates excellent durability, maintaining its performance during accelerated degradation tests for 5000 cycles. This work offers a practical framework for the designing and preparing of non-precious metal electrocatalysts for the HOR in fuel cells.