Rhenium-Doped and Stabilized MoS2 Atomic Layers with Basal-Plane Catalytic Activity
Shi-Ze Yang1, Yongji Gong2,3, Priyanka Manchanda4
1Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|October 29, 2018
Summary
Alloying molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) with rhenium (Re) creates a stable catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This new MoS2-Re alloy exhibits enhanced activity and durability, crucial for clean hydrogen production.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts are vital for clean hydrogen fuel production.
- Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) typically shows limited catalytic activity on its basal planes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the catalytic activity and stability of MoS2 for the HER.
- To investigate the effect of rhenium (Re) alloying on MoS2 structure and performance.
Main Methods:
- Experimental synthesis and characterization of MoS2-Re alloys.
- Electrochemical testing for HER activity and stability.
- Density functional theory (DFT) calculations to understand the catalytic mechanism.
Main Results:
- Rhenium alloying (≈50%) transforms MoS2 into a stable distorted tetragonal (DT) structure.
- The MoS2-Re alloy demonstrates significantly enhanced HER activity compared to pristine MoS2.
- The new alloy exhibits superior stability over time and cycling compared to lithiated MoS2.
- DFT calculations reveal that Mo-rich DT configurations are the primary active sites, with activity approaching that of platinum.
Conclusions:
- Chemical doping with Re is an effective strategy to create highly active and stable MoS2-based HER catalysts.
- The developed MoS2-Re alloy offers a promising alternative for efficient hydrogen production.
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