Self-standing hollow porous Co/a-WOx nanowire with maximum Mott-Schottky effect f or boosting alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

The sufficient utilization of Mott-Schottky effect for boosting alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) depends upon scale minimizing of interface components and exposure maximizing of Mott-Schottky interface. Here, a self-standing porous tubular Mott-Schottky electrocatalyst is constructed by a self-template etching strategy, where amorphous WOx (a-WOx) nano-matrix connects Co nanoparticles. This novel "Janus" electrocatalyst maximizes the Mott-Schottky effect by not only providing a highly exposed micro interface, but also simultaneously accelerating the water dissociation and optimizing the hydrogen desorption process. Experimental findings and theoretical calculations reveal that Co/a-WOx Mott-Schottky heterointerface triggers the electron redistribution and a build-in electric field, which can not only optimize the adsorption energy of the reaction intermediates, but also facilitate the charge transfer. Thus, Co/a-WOx requires an overpotental of only 36.3 mV at 10 mA.cm(-2) and shows a small Tafel slope of 53.9 mV-dec(-1) as well as an excellent 200-h long-term stability. This work provides a novel design strategy for maximizing the Mott-Schottky effect on promoting alkaline HER.