Stable 1T –2H MoS2 heterostructures for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract

1T-phase molybdenum disulfide (1T MoS2) can efficiently facilitate the charge transfer and provide the active site, exhibiting a better hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) than 2H MoS2. However, its thermodynamic instability becomes a major drawback that hinders its practical application. We report a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method to grow MoS2 nanosheets with high 1T content (61.5%) by introducing an appropriate amount of antimony oxide. The 1T-2H hybrid structures grown in this mode are thermodynamically stable. 1T phase of the MoS2 produces a unique charge distribution that makes the S atoms at the 1T-2H interface more favorable for H adsorption, thus enhancing the HER activity on the MoS2 basal plane. This study has provided a new idea for the 1T-phase MoS2 preparation for efficient HER.