Engineering Doping and Vacancy in a C 3 N 4 Electrocatalyst with Ni 4 Mo Cocatalyst for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide To meet the growing demand for sustainable hydrogen production, robust and cost-effective electrocatalysts are essential, especially under alkaline conditions. Herein, we report a phosphorus-doped carbon nitride (P–C 3 N 4 ) electrocatalyst exhibiting remarkable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance in an alkaline electrolyte. Phosphorus doping was found to promote electronic conductivity and create Lewis acidic active sites, facilitating water dissociation and hydrogen adsorption. Electrochemical measurements revealed a significant reduction in overpotential and Tafel slope upon optimal P-doping (2.0 at%). Further introduction of nitrogen vacancies (NV) and coloading with Ni 4 Mo bimetallic alloy synergistically enhanced the catalytic activity, delivering an overpotential (η 10 ) as low as 93 mV at −10 mA·cm –2 and a Tafel slope of 88 mV·dec –1, without reliance on noble metals. These results underscore the promise of defect-engineered C 3 N 4 systems as viable catalysts for green hydrogen generation.