Triethylenetetramine-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of sulfur-doped few-layer MoSe2/nitrogenated graphene hybrids and their catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

S-doped MoSe2/nitrogenated graphene hybrid has been successfully fabricated through a facile triethylenetetramine-assisted hydrothermal method and is investigated as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The obtained products are well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Electrochemical impendence spectroscopy (EIS). The results reveal that S-doped MoSe2 nanosheets which are characteristic of few layers (2–4 layers) and abundant exposed active edge sites are well implanted into the nitrogen-doped graphene networks to form robust 2D hybrid. When evaluated as a catalyst for HER, the obtained hybrid demonstrates superior electrocatalytic activities toward HER in comparison with the bare MoSe2. It is believed that the desirable electrochemical performances benefit from the unique microstructures including few-layer features, plentiful exposed active sites as well as intimate integration with highly electroconductive nitrogenated graphene.