Engineering the Electronic Structure of 2D WS2 Nanosheets Using Co Incorporation as Cox W(1- x ) S2 for Conspicuously Enhanced Hydrogen Generation.
Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), as one of potential electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), have been extensively studied. Such TMD-based ternary materials are believed to engender optimization of hydrogen adsorption free energy to thermoneutral value. Theoretically, cobalt is predicted to actively promote the catalytic activity of WS2 . However, experimentally it requires systematic approach to form Cox W(1- x ) S2 without any concomitant side phases that are detrimental for the intended purpose. This study reports a rational method to synthesize pure ternary Cox W(1- x ) S2 nanosheets for efficiently catalyzing HER. Benefiting from the modification in the electronic structure, the resultant material requires overpotential of 121 mV versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) to achieve current density of 10 mA cm(-2) and shows Tafel slope of 67 mV dec(-1) . Furthermore, negligible loss of activity is observed over continues electrolysis of up to 2 h demonstrating its fair stability. The finding provides noticeable experimental support for other computational reports and paves the way for further works in the area of HER catalysis based on ternary materials.
CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.|CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
Tofik Ahmed
TA
Shifa
CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.|CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
Fengmei
F
Wang
CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.|CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
Kaili
K
Liu
CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.|CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
Kai
K
Xu
CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.|CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.
Zhenxing
Z
Wang
CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.|CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.
Xueying
X
Zhan
CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.
Chao
C
Jiang
CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.|CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China.
Jun
J
He
D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D028561:Transition Elements / Q000737:chemistry
D028561:Transition Elements; D006859:Hydrogen
chemical vapor deposition; hydrogen evolution reaction; hydrogen generation; nanosheets; ternary nanosheet; transition metal dichalcogenides