Molybdenum disulfide as hydrogen evolution catalyst: From atomistic to materials structure and electrocatalytic performance

Hydrogen production via water electrolysis defines the novel energy vector for achieving a sustainable society. However, the true progress of the given technology is hindered by the sluggish and complex hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) occurring at the cathodic side of the system where overpriced and scarce Pt-based electrocatalysts are usually employed. Therefore, efficient platinum group metals (PGMs)-free electrocatalysts to carry out HER with accelerated kinetics are urgently demanded. In this scenario, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) owing to efficacious structural attributes and optimum hydrogen-binding free energy (DGH*) is emerging as a reliable alternative to PGMs. However, the performance of MoS2-based electrocatalysts is still far away from the benchmark performance. The HER activity of MoS2 can be improved by engineering the structural parameters i.e., doping, defects inducement, modulating the electronic structure, stabilizing the 1 T phase, creating nanocomposites, and altering the morphologies using appropriate fabrication pathways. Here, we have comprehensively reviewed the majority of the scientific endeavors published in recent years to uplift the HER activity of MoS2-based electrocatalysts using different methods. Advancements in the major fabrication strategies including hydrothermal synthesis methods, chemical vapor deposition, exfoliation techniques, plasma treatments, chemical methodologies, etc. to tune the structural parameters and hence their ultimate influence on the electrocatalytic activity in acidic and/or alkaline media have been thoroughly discussed. This study can provide encyclopedic insights about the fabrication routes that have been pursued to improve the HER performance of MoS2-based electrocatalysts.(c) 2023 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. and Science Press. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Automated summary

Hydrogen production via water electrolysis is a promising energy solution, but the sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) hampers its progress. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has emerged as a reliable alternative to expensive platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts. This comprehensive review summarizes recent scientific endeavors to enhance the HER activity of MoS2-based electrocatalysts through various fabrication methods and provides insights into the factors influencing their performance.