Abstract:
Molecular hydrogen (H2) is the most promising candidate for replacing fossil fuels because of its
high energy density and zero carbon emission. Cleaner ways for hydrogen production are highly
expected. Electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) serves for this purpose. Developing
highly efficient HER electrocatalysts to minimize the overpotential and facilitate the reaction
kinetics is one of the prerequisites to electrocatalytic hydrogen production in large-scale. The
research is based on a synthesis of MXenes/MOFs composites for enhanced electrocatalytic HER.
Ti3C2Tx MXenes and UiO-66 MOFs were used for this purpose. Ti3C2Tx MXenes were
synthesized via NH4HF2 and citric acid chemical etching. UiO-66 MOFs were synthesized through
hydrothermal technique. Ti3C2Tx/UiO-66 composite was synthesized through an in-situ synthesis
approach. Three Ti3C2Tx/UiO-66 composites were synthesized, based on different mass ratios, i.e.,
1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 of Ti3C2Tx:UiO-66. Electrochemical testing was performed to evaluate HER
performance of the synthesized electrocatalyst.
