Constructing carbon-cohered high-index (222) faceted tantalum carbide nanocrystals as a robust hydrogen evolution catalyst

High-index (222) faceted tantalum carbide nanocrystals cohered by in situ amorphous carbon are one-step fabricated based on a novel “micro-cutting-fragmentation” technique by incomplete chlorination towards bulk TaC. Consistent with theoretical calculations, the new produced catalyst presents extraordinary HER activity which surpasses all reported group V metal carbides-based catalysts. That can be attributed to abundant active sites on the exposed high-index (222) facets.178