Insights into photo-activated electrode for boosting electrocatalytic methanol oxidation based on ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets enwrapped CdS nanowires

In this paper, a new and high-performance visible-light-activated electrode is designed in terms of two dimensional (2D) MoS2 nanosheets enwrapped 1D CdS nanowires as photo activated support for depositing Pt nanoclusters. Compare to traditional ambient electro-catalytic process, the as-prepared photo-activated electrode shows evidently improved electrocatalytic activity and stability of methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) under visible light illumination. The efficient interfacial electron transfer from the excited CdS moieties to the decorated ultrathin MoS2 shell contributes to the synergistic effect of photocatalytic and electrocatalytic process for the boosting of catalytic efficiency. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.