Core-shell MoO3-MoS2 Nanowires for Hydrogen Evolution: A Functional Design for Electrocatalytic Materials

We synthesize vertically oriented core-shell nanowires with substoichiometric MoO3 cores of similar to 20-50 nm and conformal MoS2 shells of similar to 2-5 nm. The core-shell architecture, produced by low-temperature sulfidization, is designed to utilize the best properties of each component material while mitigating their deficiencies. The substoichiometric MoO3 core provides a high aspect ratio foundation and enables facile charge transport, while the conformal MoS2 shell provides excellent catalytic activity and protection against corrosion in strong acids.