Thermodynamic driven phase engineering in VMo2S4 nanosheets for superior water splitting

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 527; p. 146755
• Main Authors: Zhang, Songge, Hao, Jiace, Zhu, Han, Jiang, Xiaodi, Sang, Xinxin, Gao, Guohua, Zhu, Haiyan, Lu, Shuanglong, Du, Mingliang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.10.2020
• Subjects: Overall water splitting; Phase engineering; VMo2S4; Phase engineering; VMo2S4; Overall water splitting
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2020.146755

The introduction of V atoms endows MoS2 great water oxidation performance in alkaline solution, affording a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at overpotential of 295 mV. [Display omitted] •Tuning the 2D MoS2 into VMo2S4 via thermodynamic driven phase engineering.•VMo2S4 nanosheets show good water splitting activity with 1.65 V for 10 mA cm−2.•V introduction into interplane of MoS2 facilitates *OOH formation. A concept of experiment to tune the two-dimensional MoS2 into VMo2S4 via thermodynamic driven phase engineering by combining the facile electrospinning technology and S-vapor assisted graphitization process has been demonstrated. Compared to V doped MoS2 nanosheets, the VMo2S4 nanosheets show a superior oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity in alkaline electrolyte, reaching a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at overpotential of 295 mV with Tafel slope of 97 mV dec−1. The VMo2S4 nanosheets also show superior water splitting activity with 10 mA cm−2 at a cell voltage of 1.65 V. The theoretical and experimental results reveal that the V introduction into interplane of MoS2 leads to the significant decrease in the energy barrier for *OOH formation (0.99 eV), thus suggesting the improved transformation from *OOH to O2.