Pore Surface Engineering of Covalent Triazine Frameworks@MoS₂ Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Electrochemical water splitting is an important strategy for the mass production of hydrogen. Development of synthesizable catalysts has always been one of the biggest obstacles to replace platinum-group catalysts. In this work, a high quality crystal polymer covalent triazine framework [CTF; Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of 1562.6 m² g^-1 ] is synthesized and MoS₂ nanoparticles are grown in situ into/onto the 1 D channel arrays or the external surface for electrocatalysis [hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)] . The state-of-the-art CTFs@MoS₂ structure exhibits superior catalytic kinetics with an overpotential of 93 mV and Tafel slope of 43 mV dec^-1 , which is improved over most other reported analogous catalysts. The inherent π-conjugated crystal channels in CTFs provides a multifunctional support for electron transmission and mass diffusion during the hydrogen evolution process. Catalytic kinetics analysis shows that the HER performance is closely correlated to the hierarchical pore parameters and aggregated thickness of MoS₂ nanoparticles. This work provides an attractive and durable alternative to synthesize high activity and stable catalysts for HER.