A Novel MoSe₂–Reduced Graphene Oxide/Polyimide Composite Film for Applications in Electrocatalysis and Photoelectrocatalysis Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

Promising catalytic activity of MoSe 2 in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is synthesized on a new reduced graphene oxide/polyimide (rGO/PI) substrate by a simple electrochemical method. The MoSe 2 nanoparticles have excellent photo‐responsive properties; the potential difference could reach 0.45 V with the photo‐responsive time just 0.6 s. Furthermore, MoSe 2 thin film exhibits superior catalytic activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). It has a greater cathode current at more positive potential compared to other MoSe 2 and MoS 2 , and the efficiency of H 2 evolution is strongly influenced by illumination; this suggests that MoSe 2 composite film has good photoelectrocatalysis properties for hydrogen evolution. Besides, both dark and illumination MoSe 2 films exhibit extremely high stability in acidic solution as the HER catalytic activity shows no degradation after 100 cycles for two hours. All results indicate that MoSe 2 –rGO/PI composite film has potential to be a better catalyst for HER.