One-step assembly of 2H-1T MoS₂:Cu/reduced graphene oxide nanosheets for highly efficient hydrogen evolution

The transition metal dichagenides and their metallic 1T structure are attracting contemporary attentions for applications in high-performance devices because their peculiar optical and electrical properties. The single and few layers 1T structure is generally obtained by mechanical or chemical exfoliation. This work presents facile one-step synthesis of 2H-1T MoS₂:Cu/reduced graphene oxide nanosheets. The experiment results indicated that the MoS₂ and MoS₂:Cu prepared by simple chemical solution reaction possessed 2H-1T structures. The reduced graphene oxide (rGO) incorporation further induced the phase transition from 2H-MoS₂ to 1T-MoS₂ and morphology transition from granular/nanosheet to more nanosheet. The 2H-1T structure and 2H → 1T phase transition, together with the Cu doping and interface effect between the MoS₂ and rGO, remarkably enhanced the conduction and photoconduction of the nanostructures. Thus, Cu doping and rGO incorporation obviously enhanced the catalytic activity and its stability, making the MoS₂:Cu/rGO nanosheet a most active and stable catalyst for hydrogen evolution. This work clearly indicates that the 1T-MoS₂ nanosheets with high catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution can be easily obtained by the facile low temperature chemical method and induction of rGO.