title: Ag2S/Ag Heterostructure: A Promising Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.
abstract: Different metal chalcogenides, being a potential candidate for hydrogen evolution catalysts, have attracted enormous attention in the field of water splitting. In the present study, Ag2S/Ag is revealed as an efficient catalyst for hydrogen evolution. When a sacrificial template of the CuS nanostructure is used, Ag2S/Ag heterostructures are synthesized following a simple wet-chemical technique. Two different routes, wet chemical and hydrothermal, are followed to modulate the morphology of the CuS templates from flower ball to wirelike structures, which subsequently results in the formation of Ag2S nanostructure. Finally, the Ag layer is deposited on Ag2S with the help of a photoreduction technique. The unique heterostructure of Ag2S/Ag shows efficient catalytic activity in the H2evolution reaction. A Ag2S/Ag wire can successfully generate a 10 mA/cm2current density at a -0.199 V potential. Ag2S/Ag contains the micronanostructure where nanoplates of Ag2S/Ag assemble to give rise to microstructures such as flower balls and wire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Physics, BITS-Pilani , Pilani, Rajasthan-333031, India.
authors.forename: Mrinmoyee
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7675-9908
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Physics, BITS-Pilani , Pilani, Rajasthan-333031, India.
authors.forename: Roshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Physics, BITS-Pilani , Pilani, Rajasthan-333031, India.
authors.forename: Chavi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mahala
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Physics, BITS-Pilani , Pilani, Rajasthan-333031, India.
authors.forename: Pragati
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fageria
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Physics, BITS-Pilani , Pilani, Rajasthan-333031, India.
authors.forename: Sumita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Physics, BITS-Pilani , Pilani, Rajasthan-333031, India.
authors.forename: Subhashis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangopadhyay
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Physics, BITS-Pilani , Pilani, Rajasthan-333031, India.
authors.forename: Surojit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pande