Amorphous and crystalline heterostructure MoSe2/NiFe-LDH through p-n junction formation for electrochemical water splitting-synergistic back bonding effect

Abstract

Designing a long-lasting, highly effective, non-noble metal-free electrocatalyst for both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a strenuous task for water electrolysis. Here, in our study, an ordered NiFe-layer double hydroxide (LDH)/MoSe2 as p-n junction material was designed using facile two-step hydrothermal process for the overall water splitting reaction. Additionally, synthesized NiFe-LDH/MoSe2, electrode exhibits long-term durability in both acidic and alkaline medium for HER and OER, respectively. Mott-Schottky experiments provides the insights of interfacial electron transfer, where the electron is transported from n-type NiFe-LDH to p-type MoSe2, resulting in the generation of the p-n junction in MoSe2/NiFe-LDH. As the formation LDH and transition dichalcogenides p-n junction leads to activation of the catalysts towards the OH− adsorption that may enable the water electrolysis with a low overpotential. The XPS analysis supports the electron transfer from Fe to Mo resulting in the formation synergistic back bonding between the p-n heterojunction. This strategy opens up an alternative path to a highly effective, relatively low-price catalyst for the global production of renewable energy fuels.