Ionic liquid functionalized carbon nanotubes: metal-free electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

For the first time, five kinds of ionic liquid functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (IL-MWCNTs) were applied as metal-free electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). 1-Aminopropyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide functionalized MWCNTs demonstrate the best HER performance due to their strongest proton adsorption ability and conductivity for the fastest reduction kinetics.