“…2 and Table 2 that they all showed three Mo species: 228.4-228.8, 229.0-229.4 and 232.7-232.8 eV for Mo 2+ , Mo δ+ and Mo 6+ species, respectively. 35,36 Due to the fact that it was very difficult to distinguish among Mo-C (228.1-228.6 eV), 37,38 Mo-N (228.7-228.8 eV) 39 and Mo-P (228.0-228.4 eV) [40][41][42] by curve fitting, the Mo species in β-Mo 2 C, γ-Mo 2 N and MoP had to be uniformly assigned to Mo 2+ . In addition, there was a C 1s peak at 283.6 eV (known as the Mo carbide feature) 38 and a P 2p 3/2 peak at 129.7 eV (known as the Mo phosphide feature) 42 in the carbonized and phosphorized Mo/CNT samples, respectively, indicating the formation of Mo carbide during carbonization of Mo/CNTs and the formation of Mo phosphide during phosphorization of Mo/CNTs.…”