Engineering MoS₂ for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution: A Review of Phase, Defect, Doping, and Composite Strategies

In the face of global energy and environmental challenges, developing highly efficient, low-cost catalysts for hydrogen production via water electrolysis is of paramount importance. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), as a highly promising non-precious metal catalyst, has garnered significant attention in this field. This review systematically outlines the latest research advances in MoS₂-based materials for the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. Focusing on key bottlenecks such as its inherent poor conductivity and basal plane catalytic inertness, it thoroughly explores effective pathways for synergistically regulating electronic structure and surface properties through multidimensional strategies. These include phase engineering (inducing 2H-1T phase transformation), defect engineering (creating sulfur/molybdenum vacancies), elemental doping (introducing nonmetallic/metallic heteroatoms), and composite structure construction (forming heterojunctions with carbon materials, etc.). It systematically analyzes the mechanisms by which these strategies increase active site density, optimize hydrogen adsorption free energy, and enhance charge transport efficiency. Furthermore, it outlines future challenges and development directions for industrial applications, providing important references for designing high-performance MoS₂-based electrocatalysts.