CNTs Bridged Basal-Plane-Active 2H-MoS₂ Nanosheets for Efficient Robust Electrocatalysis

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• 2D Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) in the 2H-phase shows potential for electrocatalysis due to its stability, abundant edge sites, and large surface area.
• Pristine 2H-MoS₂ exhibits poor conductivity, limited electron transfer, and reduced surface activity, exacerbated by aggregation and self-curling during operation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To overcome the limitations of pristine 2H-MoS₂ for enhanced electrocatalytic performance.
• To improve electron transfer and surface activity by combining MoS₂ with conductive materials.

Main Methods:

• Intercalation-detonation-exfoliation of 2H-MoS₂ to create S-vacancy-rich materials.
• Conformal attachment of MoS₂ onto robust conductive carbon nanotubes (CNTs).
• Theoretical calculations to analyze the electronic structure of MoS₂/CNTs nanojunctions.

Main Results:

• Optimized MoS₂/CNTs nanojunctions demonstrated outstanding and stable electroactivity, comparable to commercial Platinum on Carbon (Pt/C).
• Achieved a low polarization overpotential of 79 mV at 10 mA cm^-2 and a Tafel slope of 33.5 mV dec^-1.
• Theoretical calculations revealed a metalized interfacial electronic structure, enhancing defective MoS₂ surface activity and local conductivity.

Conclusions:

• Attaching S-vacancy-rich 2H-MoS₂ to CNTs effectively addresses conductivity and surface activity issues.
• The developed MoS₂/CNTs nanojunctions offer a promising strategy for advanced 2D electrocatalysts.
• This approach provides a blueprint for designing multifunctional 2D catalysts integrated with conductive supports for accelerated energy technology development.