A Single Source, Scalable Route for Direct Isolation of Earth-Abundant Nanometal Carbide Water-Splitting Electrocatalysts

Single-phase MxCs (M = Fe, Co, and Ni) were prepared by solvothermal conversion of Prussian blue single source precursors. The single source precursor is prepared in water, and the conversion process is carried out in alkylamines at reaction temperatures above 200 degrees C. The reaction is scalable using a commercial source of Fe-PB. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron microscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction confirm that carbides have thin oxide termination but lack graphitic surfaces. Electrocatalytic activity reveals that Fe3C and Co2C are oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts, while Ni3C is a bifunctional [OER and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)] electrocatalyst.