Design Strategies for Development of TMD-Based Heterostructures in Electrochemical Energy Systems

Abstract

In realizing clean and viable electrochemical technologies for chemical conversions or energy storage, it is of utmost importance to develop economical and high-performance electrode materials. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), in particular, are attractive candidates on account of their exceptional physicochemical properties. To further enhance their performances, the construction of TMD-based heterostructures has been identified to yield a new class of promising materials with enhanced functionality, stability, and efficiencies, even surpassing that of noble metal benchmarks. In this review, we highlight recent progress in the development of TMD-based heterostructures for electrocatalytic conversion systems (hydrogen evolution reaction) and electrochemical energy-storage systems (LiB/NiB/supercapacitors). Vital strategies for rational design of these heterostructures are discussed, and future directions in overcoming key limitations are provided. We hope that the perspectives presented will facilitate advancements in attaining new and improved TMD-based heterostructures better suited for the respective applications. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising materials for use in electrocatalytic and electrochemical energy-storage systems owing to their exceptional physicochemical properties, including large surface area, remarkable mechanical properties, high catalytic activity, chemical stability, and low cost. In further improving material properties tailored to meet application-specific requirements, heterostructure construction holds significant advantages, benefiting from the synergistic effect between constituents involved. TMD-based heterostructures have been widely explored recently, giving rise to diverse materials with desirable characteristics such as significantly increased interfacial contact of low resistance for efficient electron transfers, constituent-dependent electronic structure, tunable layer distances facilitating easily intercalation of redox species, and increased surface area for effective interaction with electrolyte. In this review, TMD-based heterostructures are assessed for performance in electrocatalytic conversion (hydrogen evolution reaction) and electrochemical energy-storage systems (NiB/LiB/supercapacitors). The impactful strategies employed in overcoming key challenges are evaluated, and finally, future directions for TMD-based heterostructure construction are presented. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising materials for use in electrocatalytic and electrochemical energy-storage systems owing to their exceptional physicochemical properties, including large surface area, remarkable mechanical properties, high catalytic activity, chemical stability, and low cost. In further improving material properties tailored to meet application-specific requirements, heterostructure construction holds significant advantages, benefiting from the synergistic effect between constituents involved. TMD-based heterostructures have been widely explored recently, giving rise to diverse materials with desirable characteristics such as significantly increased interfacial contact of low resistance for efficient electron transfers, constituent-dependent electronic structure, tunable layer distances facilitating easily intercalation of redox species, and increased surface area for effective interaction with electrolyte. In this review, TMD-based heterostructures are assessed for performance in electrocatalytic conversion (hydrogen evolution reaction) and electrochemical energy-storage systems (NiB/LiB/supercapacitors). The impactful strategies employed in overcoming key challenges are evaluated, and finally, future directions for TMD-based heterostructure construction are presented. The constant pursuit for development and modernization necessitates extensive and ever-increasing global energy consumption, imposing strain on our current availability of non-renewable fossil fuel resources and raising concern about eventual depletion.1Chu S. Majumdar A. Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy future.Nature. 2012; 488: 294-303Crossref PubMed Scopus (3049) Google Scholar,2Jeffrey C. Raymond J.K. Paul R.P. 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