Unraveling the morphology effect of kandite supporting MoS2 nanosheets for enhancing electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Recently, composite electrocatalysts integrating MoS2 nanosheets on supports have shown prospective electrochemical activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The micro morphology of supports is one of vital factors to be considered for the design of composite electrocatalysts, and therefore the morphology effect of supports on the catalytic activity is necessary to be unraveled. Herein, MoS2 nanosheets were hydrothermally assembled on surfaces of kandite minerals with different morphologies of nanosheets, nanorods, and nanotubes, respectively. The composite electrocatalysts of kandite supporting MoS2 nanosheets exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for the HER, and the Tafel slope of MoS2 on kaolinite nanosheets (59 mV/dec) was lower than that on kaolinite nanorods and halloysite nanotubes. Kaolinite nanosheets presented superior morphology synergy with MoS2 nanosheets due to the similar two-dimensional structures. For one-dimensional supports, halloysite nanotubes had larger specific surface areas and the higher mass transport efficiency than kaolinite nanorods. This work provides novel insight into the role of support morphology played in the development of composite electrocatalysts for the HER.

Automated summary

This study demonstrated the excellent morphology synergy between kaolinite nanosheets and MoS2 nanosheets in composite electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), providing novel insights into the role of support morphology in the development of HER electrocatalysts. The specific surface areas and mass transport efficiency of halloysite nanotubes as one-dimensional supports were found to be superior to kaolinite nanorods.