Efficient and Durable Semigraphitized Carbon Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution in Alkaline Electrolyte

The replacement of precious metal electrocatalysts by highly active and cost-efficient alternatives for complete water splitting at low voltage has recently attracted a growing attention. In this work, it is reported how semigraphitized carbons are transformed into highly active electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. Moreover, heat treatment at 400 °C under certain conditions can be a simple and cheaper approach to perform surface modification of low-graphitized carbons. This leads to a remarkable modulation on their catalytic activity. These materials can offer promising low-cost catalysts for water decomposition.