2D Transition‐Metal‐Dichalcogenide‐Nanosheet‐Based Composites for Photocatalytic and Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

TLDR

Hydrogen is a key clean energy carrier, and photocatalytic and electrocatalytic water‑splitting reactions are among the most efficient routes to produce it, with transition‑metal dichalcogenide catalysts emerging as promising noble‑metal alternatives. This review examines recent advances in photocatalytic and electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution using 2D TMD‑based composite catalysts. The HER performance of TMD nanosheets can be enhanced by hybridizing them with metals, oxides, sulfides, or carbon materials through methods such as in‑situ reduction, hot‑injection, heating‑up, hydro(solvo)thermal, CVD, or thermal annealing.

Abstract

Hydrogen (H 2 ) is one of the most important clean and renewable energy sources for future energy sustainability. Nowadays, photocatalytic and electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) from water splitting are considered as two of the most efficient methods to convert sustainable energy to the clean energy carrier, H 2 . Catalysts based on transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are recognized as greatly promising substitutes for noble‐metal‐based catalysts for HER. The photocatalytic and electrocatalytic activities of TMD nanosheets for the HER can be further improved after hybridization with many kinds of nanomaterials, such as metals, oxides, sulfides, and carbon materials, through different methods including the in situ reduction method, the hot‐injection method, the heating‐up method, the hydro(solvo)thermal method, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and thermal annealing. Here, recent progress in photocatalytic and electrocatalytic HERs using 2D TMD‐based composites as catalysts is discussed.