Easy incorporation of single-walled carbon nanotubes into two-dimensional MoS2 for high-performance hydrogen evolution

• Published in: Nanotechnology Vol. 25; no. 46; pp. 465401 - 465406
• Main Authors: Cai, Yu, Yang, Xi, Liang, Tao, Dai, Lu, Ma, Lin, Huang, Guowei, Chen, Weixiang, Chen, Hongzheng, Su, Huanxing, Xu, Mingsheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 21.11.2014; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: carbon nanotubes; Catalysis; Catalytic methods; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Disulfides - chemistry; Electrochemistry; Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; Electronic transport in multilayers, nanoscale materials and structures; Exact sciences and technology; Humans; Hydrogen - chemistry; hydrogen evolution reaction; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; Molybdenum - chemistry; molybdenum disulfide; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotubes; Nanotubes, Carbon - chemistry; Physics; Interfaces; Singlewalled nanotube; Electrical conductivity; Composite materials; Nanosheet; Catalysts; Electronic conductivity; Electrolytes; Charge transfer; Catalyst activity; Carbon
• ISSN: 0957-4484; 1361-6528; 1361-6528
• DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/25/46/465401

The limited intrinsic conductivity of two-dimensional (2D) MoS2 nanosheets compromises its high electrocatalytic performance. In this work, we develop a facile method of simply dispersing MoS2 nanosheets into a water-isopropanol solution of high-conducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) for preparation of MoS2 SWCNT composites. The SWCNTs in the hybrid system serve as effective electron transport channels among 2D MoS2 nanosheets and facilitate charge transfer at the catalyst-electrolyte interface. We investigated the influence of SWCNTs ratios on the catalytic activities and obtained a high-performance hybrid catalyst with a low Tafel slope of 40.82 mV decade and prominent electrochemical durability. The demonstration of our hybrid electrocatalytic system, with its scalable capacity for facile preparation, provides a new pathway to enhance HER activity.