A Novel C Doped MoS₂/CoP/MoO₂ Ternary Heterostructure Nanoflower for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at Wide pH Range and Efficient Overall Water Splitting in Alkaline Media

Abstract

The development of low‐cost and high‐efficiency bifunctional catalysts is still a challenge for hydrogen production through overall water splitting. This paper reports the in‐situ synthesis of C‐doped MoS2/CoP/MoO2 using bacterial cellulose (BC) as the reducing agent and the source of C and using BC (MoS2/Co1.2MoO4.2 ⋅ 1.2H2O/BC) as the template. Heterogeneous structure for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and alkaline water electrolysis in a wide pH range. Due to the large number of defect sites caused by C doping and the synergy between these three active components (MoS2, CoP and MoO2), the HER and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities of the catalyst have been greatly improved. Therefore, during HER, a small initial overpotential (27 mV) was achieved in 1.0 M KOH. In 0.5 M H2SO4, 0.1 M PBS and 1.0 M KOH, the current density reached 10 mA cm−2 at overpotentials of 123.4, 150, and 139 mV, respectively. For OER, an overpotential of 268 mV was required to achieve 10 mA cm−2. The alkaline two‐electrode device composed of C doped MoS2/CoP/MoO2 delivers 10 mA cm−2 at a low potential of 1.51 V and can be easily driven by a single AA battery. This work provides a new design strategy of C doped ternary heterostructures for electrocatalysis and related energy applications.

Cellulose-Based Conductive Materials for Energy and Sensing Applications

“…Ball milling crushed the oxide shells of the liquid metal, and the CNF formed a continuous conductive pathway with an impressive conductivity of 96,000 S/m and a tensile strength of more than 30 MPa. Wang et al used a hydrothermal reaction and high-temperature phosphatization to prepare a BC-loaded ternary heterostructure nanoflower composite flower composite structure (Figure 6b) [70], which was able to be used for the hydrogen precipitation reaction in a wide pH range. In HER tests, the best sample achieved an initial overpotential of 27 mV in 1.0 M KOH and current densities of 10 mA/cm 2 at overpotentials of 123.4, 150, and 139 mV in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 , 0.1 M PBS, and 1.0 M KOH, respectively.…”

“…Conductive polymers are electrically conductive materials with conjugated main electrons in the main chain of the molecule, which can either be electrically conductive themselves or doped with other materials that are also electrically conductive [76]. [70]. (c) Microscopic assembly mechanism of BC/MXene-composed 3D porous films.…”

“…(b) Preparation of BC-loaded ternary heterostructured nanoflower composite flower structures. Reprinted with permission from ref [70]…”