Electrocatalytic activity of pristine and electrochemically activated SnSe2 nanoplates for the hydrogen evolution reaction

2D layered nanomaterials such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been explored as potential alternatives to platinum as electrocatalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). There are various TMDs that have shown promising catalytic activity towards the HER. Unfortunately, the group IVA chalcogenides have not yet been extensively explored as potential electrocatalysts for the HER. Therefore, this work explored the catalytic activity of colloidally synthesized SnSe2 nanostructures towards the HER. SnSe2 nanoplates with a 1T polytype structure were synthesized. The SnSe2 nanoplates had a poor catalytic performance with an onset potential of 390 mV, an overpotential of 689 mV, and a Tafel slope of 242 mV/dec. However, the SnSe2 nanoplates were electrochemically activated through H+ intercalation, and the catalytic performance of the nanostructures drastically improved. The electrochemically activated SnSe2 nanoplates exhibited exceptional improvements in catalytic performance with an onset potential of 141 mV, an overpotential of 289 mV, and a Tafel slope of 79 mV/dec. This indicated excellent catalytic performance from the electrochemically activated SnSe2 nanostructures towards the HER.

Automated summary

In this study, the catalytic performance of colloidal synthesized SnSe2 nanoplates towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was improved through electrochemical activation, resulting in exceptional catalytic activity.