RETRACTED: Atomic layer deposition of NiS2 nanoparticles on surface-modified MoS2 nanosheets for improved electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction in acid media

Abstract

Developing active and stable electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is vital for the sustainable production of hydrogen (H2). In this report, NiS2 nanoparticles were deposited on the two-dimension (2D) MoS2 nanosheets by atomic layer deposition (ALD). The as-prepared MoS2/NiS2 composites were used as a working electrode for HER and displayed improved catalytic efficiency over the pristine MoS2 electrode. The electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the overpotential and the Tafel slope of the optimized MoS2/NiS2 composite were −114.6 mV and 45.4 mV/dec, which were very close to the benchmark Pt/C electrode. The improved HER activity of the MoS2/NiS2 composites could be due to the synergic effects between MoS2 and NiS2. This work could provide helpful guidance on how to design and construct efficient MoS2-based electrocatalysts for HER.