PtMo Sponge-like Nanoporous Structure Wrapped with Ultrathin N,S-Co-Doped Carbon Dots Exhibiting Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction and Oxygen Reduction Reaction

A simple one-pot aqueous method is proposed to synthesize PtMo sponge-like nanoporous structure wrapped with ultrathin nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots by using NaBH4 as the reductant without any surfactants. The materials are carefully investigated by microscopic (SEM, TEM), spectroscopic (high resolution photoemission, Raman spectroscopy) techniques, evidencing that N,S-co-doped Cdot wraps PtMo sponge-like nanoporous structure. The electrocatalytic activity of the material is tested toward the electrochemical evolution of hydrogen and the electrochemical reduction of oxygen. The obtained N,S-co-doped Cdot/PtMo nanohybrids display enlarged electrochemically active surface area and superior electrocatalytic performances toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in comparison with single PtMo and c-Pt/C catalysts, exhibiting promising applications in energy storage and conversion.