Two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenide composite/reduced graphene oxide hybrid materials for hydrogen evolution application

Abstract

MoFeNiS nanocomposites and MoFeNiS/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrid materials were synthesized by a modified hydrothermal method. The catalytic activity of catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was investigated at acidic, alkaline and neutral media. The MoFeNiS/rGO catalyst was found to be very active for HER, and this process is probably depended on Volmer–Heyrovsky mechanism with the desorption process as the rate-determining step. Moreover, the MoFeNiS/rGO catalyst indicated the low onset overpotential of −100 mV, Tafel slope of 48.68 mV dec−1, and the overpotential of −140 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA cm−2. The excellent HER activity of MoFeNiS/rGO hybrid catalyst is probably attributed to the high surface area and conductivity of rGO, the existence of porosity in the catalyst, and the catalytic synergistic effect between MoS2, NiS, and FeMo4S6.