Facile Synthesis of Superstructured MoS₂ and Graphitic Nanocarbon Hybrid for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

The sandwich-like 2H MoS2 and unilaminar graphitic nanocarbon hybrid was synthesized via graphitizing threonic acid intercalated MoS2 precursor obtained using hydrothermal process. An excellent electrocatalytic efficiency of hydrogen evolution reaction with a remarkably small overpotential of 195 mV and a Tafel slope of 47 mV/decade is easily accessible for our hybridized catalyst in 0.5 M H2SO4 aqueous solution, much superior to that of pure 2H MoS2 and threonic acid intercalating MoS2 nanomaterials. Moreover, the detailed electrochemical activity surface area and electrochemical impedance suggest that the face-to-face stacking of unilaminar 2H MoS2 and graphitic nanocarbon at an alternating sequence accelerates the mass transport and electron transfer and, thus, enhances the efficiency for electrocatalytic water splitting. This work paves a neoteric and straightforward pathway for the fabrication of superlattice MoS2 and unilaminar graphitic nanocarbon hybrid, further improving the electrocatalytic efficiency of 2H MoS2 nanosheets via a synergistic modulation strategy.