Tungsten Carbide Nanoparticles Embedded in Carbon Nanofoam Composites for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Efficient hydrogen evolution via water electrolysis requires the use of advanced electrocatalysts. To date, the preparation of support composites with a high load of catalytically active species remains a critical challenge. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of simultaneous laser ablation of two targets—a transition metal target and a graphite target—for synthesizing 3D nanoporous carbon/transition metal carbide composites. By varying the laser ablation position followed by postannealing treatment, the stoichiometry of the resulting composites can be precisely controlled. Morphological analysis reveals the homogeneous embedding of transition metals within a carbon foam, characterized by a dense network of nanoparticles. Annealing-induced carburization and crystallization significantly enhance the electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution. The optimized nanostructures show impressive results, with low overpotential values (−278 mV at 10 mA cm⁻²) and remarkable stability over extended durations (up to 10 h) under high current densities (up to 580 mA cm⁻²). These findings highlight the potential for creating highly homogeneous carbon-supported metallic nanoporous composites suitable for energy sector applications and other technological uses.