The Core/Shell Structure P Doped MoS2 @Ni3 S2 Nanorods Array for High Current Density Hydrogen Evolution in Alkaline and Acidic Electrolyte.

Abstract

Electrocatalysis is the most promising strategy to generate clean energy H2 , and the development of catalysts with excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance at high current density that can resist strong alkaline and acidic electrolyte environment is of great significance for practical industrial application. Therefore, a P doped MoS2 @Ni3 S2 nanorods array (named P-NiMoS) was successfully synthesized through successive sulfuration and phosphorization. P-NiMoS presents a core/shell structure with a heterojunction between MoS2 (shell) and Ni3 S2 (core). Furthermore, the doping of P modulates the electronic structure of the P-NiMoS; the electrons transfer from the t2g orbital of Ni element to the eg empty orbital of Mo element through the Ni-S-Mo bond at the Ni3 S2 and MoS2 heterojunction, facilitating the hydrogen evolution reaction. As a result, P-NiMoS exhibits excellent HER activity; the overpotential is 290 mV at high current density of 250 mA cm-2 in alkaline electrolyte, which is close to Pt/C (282 mV@250 mA cm-2 ), and P-NiMoS can stably evolve hydrogen for 48 h.