An efficient molybdenum disulfide/cobalt diselenide hybrid catalyst for electrochemical hydrogen generation

Abstract

The electroreduction of water for sustainable hydrogen production is a critical component of several developing clean-energy technologies, such as water splitting and fuel cells. However, finding a cheap and efficient alternative catalyst to replace currently used platinum-based catalysts is still a prerequisite for the commercialization of these technologies. Here we report a robust and highly active catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction that is constructed by in situ growth of molybdenum disulfide on the surface of cobalt diselenide. In acidic media, the molybdenum disulfide/cobalt diselenide catalyst exhibits fast hydrogen evolution kinetics with onset potential of −11 mV and Tafel slope of 36 mV per decade, which is the best among the non-noble metal hydrogen evolution catalysts and even approaches to the commercial platinum/carbon catalyst. The high hydrogen evolution activity of molybdenum disulfide/cobalt diselenide hybrid is likely due to the electrocatalytic synergistic effects between hydrogen evolution-active molybdenum disulfide and cobalt diselenide materials and the much increased catalytic sites.

Face the Edges: Catalytic Active Sites of Nanomaterials

“…c) Schematic representation of MoS 2 edges on CoSe 2 belts, this is the best HER catalyst among non‐noble metal to date. Reproduced with permission 54. Copyright 2015, Macmillan Publishers Ltd. d) A molecular mimic of MoS 2 edges.…”

“…Meanwhile such vertical structures are best platforms to investigate the edge properties, transition metal could dope at edge sites but not on basal planes,53 and Li 2 S nanoparticles mainly deposit on the edges versus basal planes in Li‐S batteries test. To date, the best HER catalyst among non‐noble metal is constructed by in situ growth of MoS 2 edges on CoSe 2 belt (Figure 2c), which possesses onset potential of ‐11 mV and Tafel slope of 36 mV dec ‐1 , comparable to commercial Pt/C catalyst 54…”

Two-dimensional layered MoS2: rational design, properties and electrochemical applications

“…24,[66][67][68][69][70] Typically, (NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 Á4H 2 O and thiourea have been utilized as the precursors for the Mo and S elements in hydrothermal reactions. After reaction in a Teflon-lined stainless steel autoclave, the low-quality MoS 2 flakes with abundant active sites are obtained (Fig.…”

Construction of Efficient 3D Gas Evolution Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution: Porous FeP Nanowire Arrays on Graphene Sheets

“…Constructing composite materials is a promising strategy to help overcome the drawbacks of single material usage whilst simultaneously deriving materials having both high activity and robust structures 10. Composite materials also enable the combination of the unique properties of individual nanostructures and harness any potential synergistic effects.…”

“…Recent strategies for designing highly efficient HER catalysts9 already suggest that hierarchical nanostructures, assembled from low‐dimensional building blocks such as 1D nanorods or nanowires (NWs), are promising structures for the hydrogen evolution process. [[qv: 7a,b]],8, 10 …”