A hybrid of NiMo-Mo2C/C as non-noble metal electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction in an acidic solution

•NiMo-Mo2C/C hybrid non-noble electrocatalyst is synthesized by a two-step method.•The NiMo-Mo2C/C exhibits a high electrocatalytic activity and stability for HER.•The high catalytic activity is due to electrochemical performance of NiMo and Mo2C.•The high stability of NiMo-Mo2C/C can be ascribed to the appearance of Mo2C.

Highly active and stable of carbon supported nickel molybdenum alloy and molybdenum carbide hybrid electrocatalyst (NiMo-Mo2C/C) has been developed for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an acidic solution. The NiMo-Mo2C/C electrocatalyst was synthesized by a two-step microwave-assisted deposition/carbonthermal reduction method. Compared with commercial Mo2C, it is found that NiMo-Mo2C/C showed much better electrocatalytic activity for HER with a small onset overpotential of 90 mV (j = 1 mA cm−2) and Tafel slope of 73 mV dec−1 as well as good stability in acidic solution. Such enhanced catalytic activities may originate from its anchored structure and electrochemical performance of NiMo and Mo2C.