Metallic WSe2: Sn nanosheets assembled on graphene by a modified hydrothermal process for hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Transition metal dichalcogenides are one category of potential hydrogen evolution catalyst. Their metallic (1T) structure possesses peculiar optoelectrical properties and so excellent catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution. Here we report a facile modified hydrothermal approach assembling 1T-WSe2 nanosheets and their hybrids with reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The assembled WSe2 nanosheets and the hybrids all showed 1T structures. Moreover, incorporating RGO and doping Sn cation resulted in an efficient interface-induced effect and higher electrical transfer performance and so beneficial properties for hydrogen evolution catalysis. Thus, the RGO/1T-WSe2: Sn nanosheet hybrids showed very high activity and stability for hydrogen evolution catalysis. This work suggests highly efficient and low-cost processes to obtain promising hybrid materials for highly efficient hydrogen evolution catalysis and other photoelectrical applications.