MoS2 nanosheets array on carbon cloth as a 3D electrode for highly efficient electrochemical hydrogen evolution

Abstract

We report a facile approach to the low-temperature hydrothermal fabrication of a 2H–MoS2 nanosheets array on carbon cloth (2H–MoS2 NS/CC). Li-intercalation was used to prepare 1T-MoS2 sheets from pristine 2H–MoS2 NS/CC. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectra confirmed the local phase transitions from trigonal prismatic (2H–MoS2) into octahedrally coordinated Mo (1T-MoS2). Then, we investigated the HER activity of Li–MoS2 NS/CC as a 3D integrated electrode in 0.5 M H2SO4 at room temperature using a typical three-electrode setup. The results exhibited excellent catalytic activity in acidic media. The Li–MoS2 NS/CC 3D Electrode needs overpotentials of 97 and 132 mV to approach 10 and 100 mA cm−2, respectively, which are smaller than the previously reported values. This performance of the Li–MoS2 NS/CC electrode suggests that it may hold great promise for practical applications.