Three-dimensional ZnCo/MoS2-Co3S4/NF heterostructure supported on nickel foam as highly efficient catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Exploring inexpensive and earth-abundant electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions is crucial in electrochemical sustainable chemistry field. In this work, a high efficiency and inexpensive non-noble metal catalysts as alternatives to hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was designed by one-step hydrothermal and two-step electrodeposition method. The as-prepared catalyst is composed of the synergistic MoS2-Co3S4 layer decorated by ZnCo layered double hydroxides (ZnCo-LDH), which forms a multi-layer heterostructure (ZnCo/MoS2-Co3S4/NF). The synthesized ZnCo/MoS2-Co3S4/NF exhibits a small overpotential of 31 mV and a low Tafel plot of 53.13 mV dec(-1) at a current density of 10 mA cm(-2), which is close to the HER performance of the overpotential (26 mV) of Pt/C/NF. The synthesized ZnCo/MoS2-Co3S4/NF also has good stability in alkaline solution. The excellent electrochemical performance of ZnCo/MoS2-Co3S4/NF electrode originates from its abundant active sites and good electronic conductivity brought by the multilayer heterostructure. This work provides a simple and feasible way to design alkaline HER electrocatalysts by growing heterostructures on macroscopic substrates. (C) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this work, a high efficiency and inexpensive non-noble metal catalysts as alternatives to hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was designed. The synthesized ZnCo/MoS2-Co3S4/NF electrode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance and good stability.