One-step constructing advanced N-doped carbon@metal nitride as ultra-stable electrocatalysts via urea plasma under room temperature

Highly active transition metal nitrides are desirable for electrocatalytic reactions,but their long-term stability is still unsatisfactory and thus limiting commercial applications.Herein,for the first time,we report a unique and universal room-temperature urea plasma method for controllable synthesis of N-doped carbon coated metal(Fe,Co,Ni,etc.)nitrides arrays electrocatalysts.The preformed metal oxides arrays can be successfully converted into metal nitrides arrays with preserved nanostructures and a thin layer of N-doped carbon(N-C)via one-step urea plasma.Typically,as a representative case,N-C@CoN nanowire arrays are illustrated and corresponding formation mechanism by plasma is proposed.Notably,the designed N-C@Co N catalysts deliver excellent electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability both in oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and urea oxidation reaction(UOR).For OER,a low overpotential(264 mV at 10 mA/cm^(2))and high stability(>50 h at 20 mA/cm^(2))are acquired.For UOR,a current density of100 m A/cm^(2) is achieved at only 1.39 V and maintain over 100 h.Theoretical calculations reveal that the synergetic coupling effect of CoN and N-C can significantly facilitate the charge-transfer process,optimize adsorbed intermediates binding strength and further greatly decrease the energy barrier.This strategy provides a novel method for fabrication of N-C@metal nitrides as highly active and stable catalysts.