Ultrathin WS2 nanoflakes as a high-performance electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction.
Much has been done to search for highly efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which is critical to a range of electrochemical and photoelectrochemical processes. A new, high-temperature solution-phase method for the synthesis of ultrathin WS2 nanoflakes is now reported. The resulting product possesses monolayer thickness with dimensions in the nanometer range and abundant edges. These favorable structural features render the WS2 nanoflakes highly active and durable catalysts for the HER in acids. The catalyst exhibits a small HER overpotential of approximately 100 mV and a Tafel slope of 48 mV/decade. These ultrathin WS2 nanoflakes represent an attractive alternative to the precious platinum benchmark catalyst and rival MoS2 materials that have recently been heavily scrutinized for the electrocatalytic HER.
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123 (China).
Liang
L
Cheng
Wenjing
W
Huang
Qiufang
Q
Gong
Changhai
C
Liu
Zhuang
Z
Liu
Yanguang
Y
Li
Hongjie
H
Dai
electrocatalysis; electrochemistry; hydrogen evolution reaction; monolayers; nanoflakes