title: Conducting MoS₂ nanosheets as catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction.
abstract: We report chemically exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets with a very high concentration of metallic 1T phase using a solvent free intercalation method. After removing the excess of negative charges from the surface of the nanosheets, highly conducting 1T phase MoS2 nanosheets exhibit excellent catalytic activity toward the evolution of hydrogen with a notably low Tafel slope of 40 mV/dec. By partially oxidizing MoS2, we found that the activity of 2H MoS2 is significantly reduced after oxidation, consistent with edge oxidation. On the other hand, 1T MoS2 remains unaffected after oxidation, suggesting that edges of the nanosheets are not the main active sites. The importance of electrical conductivity of the two phases on the hydrogen evolution reaction activity has been further confirmed by using carbon nanotubes to increase the conductivity of 2H MoS2.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Engineering, Rutgers University , 607 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Voiry
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Mingwei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tewodros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asefa
authors.forename: Vivek B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.forename: Goki
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eda
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chhowalla
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004220:Disulfides; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D006859:Hydrogen; D008982:Molybdenum