Deconvolution of phase-size-strain effects in metal carbide nanocrystals for enhanced hydrogen evolution.

Understanding the descriptors of electrochemical activity and ways to modulate them are of paramount importance for the efficient structural engineering of electrocatalysts. Although, many studies separately elucidated the significance of thermodynamic and kinetic descriptors, lack of integrative approaches bars the potential utilization of these engineering tools for electrocatalytic activity enhancement. Here, through a facile post-carbonization synthetic technique using templated polyoxometalate based metal organic frameworks (POMOFs), we integrate three major structural engineering tools, viz.