P and Se Binary Vacancies and Heterostructures Modulated MoP/MoSe₂ Electrocatalysts for Improving Hydrogen Evolution...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Developing efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for clean energy technologies.
• Single-strategy approaches often limit the performance of HER electrocatalysts.
• Combined strategies, including vacancy engineering and heterostructures, offer a promising avenue for enhanced catalytic activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the synergistic effects of P and Se binary vacancies and heterostructure engineering on HER performance.
• To explore the potential of MoP/MoSe2-H as an efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen production.
• To demonstrate the application of the developed electrocatalyst in a Zn-H2O battery for simultaneous electricity and hydrogen generation.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of MoP/MoSe2-H heterostructures with engineered P and Se binary vacancies.
• Electrochemical characterization of HER activity in acidic and alkaline electrolytes.
• Fabrication and testing of a Zn-H2O battery utilizing MoP/MoSe2-H as the cathode.

Main Results:

• MoP/MoSe2-H heterostructures exhibited low overpotentials of 47 mV (1 M KOH) and 110 mV (0.5 M H2SO4) at 10 mA cm-2.
• The catalyst demonstrated performance comparable to or exceeding commercial Pt/C at higher current densities.
• The fabricated Zn-H2O battery achieved a maximum power density of 28.1 mW cm-2 and stable operation for 125 hours.

Conclusions:

• Combined strategies of binary vacancies and heterostructure engineering significantly boost HER electrocatalytic activity.
• MoP/MoSe2-H is a highly efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen production and energy generation.
• This work provides a robust strategy for designing advanced electrocatalysts for sustainable energy applications.