Promising 2D/2D MoTe₂/Ti₃C₂T_<i>x</i> Hybrid Materials for Boosted Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Hydrogen as an energy source has been regarded as a clean and efficient energy carrier and as a promising alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Among numerous hydrogen generation systems, water splitting is deemed as the most productive technology to generate clean and high-purity hydrogen. The prominent features-based two-dimensional (2D) materials have proven themselves as efficient as well as robust electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here we designed a remarkably active and durable HER catalyst by integrating semimetallic 1T′ MoTe2 petal clusters on Ti3C2Tx nanosheets by a facile hydrothermal approach. As-prepared MoTe2/Ti3C2Tx hybrids exhibited significantly enhanced electrocatalytic HER performance, generating a cathode current density of 10 mA/cm2 at an overpotential of only 293 mV with a small Tafel slope of 65 mV/dec and satisfactory long-term stability in acidic media. The experimental results are further verified by the first-principles studies presenting the geometrical and electronic properties of MoTe2, Ti3C2Tx, and MoTe2/Ti3C2Tx hybrids. The interaction between the Ti3C2Tx and MoTe2 is due to charge transfer from Ti3C2Tx to MoTe2. Theoretically, we have calculated the overpotential for HER activities. Computed overpotential follows the qualitative trend of MoTe2/Ti3C2Tx < MoTe2 < Ti3C2Tx, which supports the experimental findings. The unique aspects of these unique hybrids, such as semimetallic nature MoTe2 petal clusters and strong interface interaction between MoTe2 and conductive Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, cause superior HER catalytic performance. We believe these outcomes accentuate the promising perspective of MoTe2/Ti3C2Tx hybrids as a capable and nonprecious catalyst and provide an auspicious prospect for the development of 2D materials-based HER electrocatalysts.