A synthetic route toward hybrid MoS2‐based materials that combines the 2D bonding of MoS2with 3D networking of aliphatic carbon chains is devised, leading to a film with enhanced electrocatalytic activity. The hybrid inorganic–organic thin films are synthesized by combining atomic layer deposition (ALD) with molecular layer deposition (MLD) using the precursors molybdenum hexacarbonyl and 1,2‐ethanedithiol and characterized by in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the resultant material properties are probed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction. The process exhibits a growth rate of 1.3 Å per cycle, with an ALD/MLD temperature window of 155–175 °C. The hybrid films are moderately stable for about a week in ambient conditions, smooth (σRMS≈ 5 Å for films 60 Å thick) and uniform, with densities ranging from 2.2–2.5 g cm−3. The material is both optically transparent and catalytically active for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), with an overpotential (294 mV at −10 mA cm−2) superior to that of planar MoS2. The enhancement in catalytic activity is attributed to the incorporation of organic chains into MoS2, which induces a morphological change during electrochemical testing that increases surface area and yields high activity HER catalysts without the need for deliberate nanostructuring.
The development of stable and efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts is essential for the production of hydrogen as a clean energy resource. A combination of experiment and theory demonstrates that the normally inert basal planes of 2D layers of MoS2can be made highly catalytically active for the HER when alloyed with rhenium (Re). The presence of Re at the ≈50% level converts the material to a stable distorted tetragonal (DT) structure that shows enhanced HER activity as compared to most of the MoS2‐based catalysts reported in the literature. More importantly, this new alloy catalyst shows much better stability over time and cycling than lithiated 1T‐MoS2. Density functional theory calculations find that the role of Re is only to stabilize the DT structure, while catalysis occurs primarily in local Mo‐rich DT configurations, where the HER catalytic activity is very close to that in Pt. The study provides a new strategy to improve the overall HER performance of MoS2‐based materials via chemical doping.
more » « less- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10078155
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Advanced Materials
- Volume:
- 30
- Issue:
- 51
- ISSN:
- 0935-9648
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) has emerged as a promising electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) owing to its high activity and stability during the reaction. However, the efficiency of hydrogen production is limited by the number of active sites in MoS2. In this work, a simple method of fabricating polycrystalline multilayer MoS2on Mo foil for efficient hydrogen evolution is demonstrated by controlling the sulfur (S) vacancy concentration, which can introduce new bands and lower the hydrogen adsorption free energy (Δ
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Abstract Nickel sulfide (Ni3S2) is a promising hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst by virtue of its metallic electrical conductivity and excellent stability in alkaline medium. However, the reported catalytic activities for Ni3S2are still relatively low. Herein, an effective strategy to boost the H adsorption capability and HER performance of Ni3S2through nitrogen (N) doping is demonstrated. N‐doped Ni3S2nanosheets achieve a fairly low overpotential of 155 mV at 10 mA cm−2and an excellent exchange current density of 0.42 mA cm−2in 1.0
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