Free MoS2 Nanoflowers Grown on Graphene by Microwave-Assisted Synthesis as Highly Efficient Non-Noble-Metal Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 11; no. 8; p. e0161374
• Main Authors: Cao, Jiamu, Zhang, Xuelin, Zhang, Yufeng, Zhou, Jing, Chen, Yinuo, Liu, Xiaowei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.08.2016; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Catalysis; Chemical synthesis; Disulfides - chemistry; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemical Techniques; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Evolution; Graphene; Graphite - chemistry; Hydrogen; Hydrogen - chemistry; Hydrogen evolution; Hydrogen evolution reactions; Hydrogen ion concentration; Mass production; Metals; Microwaves; Molybdenum - chemistry; Molybdenum disulfide; Nanostructures - chemistry; Nanostructures - ultrastructure; Noble metals; Oxides; Physical Sciences; Renewable resources; Research and Analysis Methods; Sulfur; Sustainable yield; Voltammetry
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161374

Advanced approaches to preparing non-noble-metal electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are considered to be a significant breakthrough in promoting the exploration of renewable resources. In this work, a hybrid material of MoS2 nanoflowers (NFs) on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was synthesized as a HER catalyst via an environmentally friendly, efficient approach that is also suitable for mass production. Small-sized MoS2 NFs with a diameter of ca. 190 nm and an abundance of exposed edges were prepared by a hydrothermal method and were subsequently supported on rGO by microwave-assisted synthesis. The results show that MoS2 NFs were distributed uniformly on the remarkably reduced GO and preserved the outstanding original structural features perfectly. Electrochemical tests show that the as-prepared hybrid material exhibited excellent HER activity, with a small Tafel slope of 80 mV/decade and a low overpotential of 170 mV.