Synergistic Regulation of Active Phases, Carbon Matrix, and Electron Transport in CNT-Incorporated Electrospun Co-Mo/P Polyacrylonitrile-Derived Carbon Nanofibers for Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution
- 1Hubei Key Laboratory of Modern Manufacturing Quality Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
- 2School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- 3School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wuhan Donghu University, Wuhan 430212, China
Abstract
Sluggish alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics restrict large-scale applications of non-noble-metal carbon-based electrocatalysts. Herein, CNT-incorporated Co-Mo/P polyacrylonitrile-derived carbon nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning followed by thermal treatment (pre-oxidation and carbonization), where the Co/Mo feed molar ratio, thermal treatment conditions, and CNT content were sequentially optimized. A continuous and uniform polyacrylonitrile-derived carbon nanofiber matrix was obtained, where pre-oxidation helped preserve the fibrous framework during carbonization. Active phases associated with metallic Co, Mo2C, and Co3Mo3C were identified and P-M (M = Co or Mo) bonding was found. Furthermore, conductive networks were formed via doping CNTs in the electrospun Co-Mo/P-based electrocatalyst, enhancing their electron transport. The optimized sample exhibited HER activity with overpotentials of 106 and 312 mV at 10 and 100 mA cm−2 as well as a Tafel slope of 99.1 mV dec−1 in 1 mol L−1 KOH electrolyte. These results demonstrate that the coordinated regulation of active phases, carbon matrix, and electron transport improved the alkaline HER performance of the electrospun Co-Mo/P-based electrocatalyst. This synergistic strategy may offer a potential pathway for developing an efficient, robust, and cheap electrocatalyst for alkaline HER.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026synergistic,
title = {{Synergistic Regulation of Active Phases, Carbon Matrix, and Electron Transport in CNT-Incorporated Electrospun Co-Mo/P Polyacrylonitrile-Derived Carbon Nanofibers for Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution}},
author = {Xiuhong Li and Xin Jin and Libo Wang and Zhiyong Yang and Jinjiao Zhang and Xinyu Hu and Daode Zhang and Yong Liu and Yan Chen},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/polym18202598},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2598},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Synergistic Regulation of Active Phases, Carbon Matrix, and Electron Transport in CNT-Incorporated Electrospun Co-Mo/P Polyacrylonitrile-Derived Carbon Nanofibers for Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution
AU - Xiuhong Li
AU - Xin Jin
AU - Libo Wang
AU - Zhiyong Yang
AU - Jinjiao Zhang
AU - Xinyu Hu
AU - Daode Zhang
AU - Yong Liu
AU - Yan Chen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18202598
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2598
AB - Sluggish alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics restrict large-scale applications of non-noble-metal carbon-based electrocatalysts. Herein, CNT-incorporated Co-Mo/P polyacrylonitrile-derived carbon nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning followed by thermal treatment (pre-oxidation and carbonization), where the Co/Mo feed molar ratio, thermal treatment conditions, and CNT content were sequentially optimized. A continuous and uniform polyacrylonitrile-derived carbon nanofiber matrix was obtained, where pre-oxidation helped preserve the fibrous framework during carbonization. Active phases associated with metallic Co, Mo2C, and Co3Mo3C were identified and P-M (M = Co or Mo) bonding was found. Furthermore, conductive networks were formed via doping CNTs in the electrospun Co-Mo/P-based electrocatalyst, enhancing their electron transport. The optimized sample exhibited HER activity with overpotentials of 106 and 312 mV at 10 and 100 mA cm−2 as well as a Tafel slope of 99.1 mV dec−1 in 1 mol L−1 KOH electrolyte. These results demonstrate that the coordinated regulation of active phases, carbon matrix, and electron transport improved the alkaline HER performance of the electrospun Co-Mo/P-based electrocatalyst. This synergistic strategy may offer a potential pathway for developing an efficient, robust, and cheap electrocatalyst for alkaline HER.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -