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Defective MoS2 electrocatalyst for highly efficient hydrogen evolution through a simple ball-milling method

球磨法制备富含缺陷的高性能二硫化钼析氢反应电催化剂

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Abstract

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has attracted extensive attention as an alternative to replace noble electrocatalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, we highlight an efficient and straightforward ball milling method, using nanoscale Cu powders as reductant to reduce MoS2 engineering S-vacancies into MoS2 surfaces, to fabricate a defectrich MoS2 material (DR-MoS2). The micron-sized DR-MoS2 catalysts exhibit significantly enhanced catalytic activity for HER with an overpotential (at 10 mA cm−2) of 176 mV in acidic media and 189 mV in basic media, surpassing most of Mo-based catalysts previously reported, especially in basic solution. Meanwhile stability tests confirm the outstanding durability of DR-MoS2 catalysts in both acid and basic electrolytes. This work not only opens a new pathway to implant defects to MoS2, but also provides low-cost alternative for efficient electrocatalytic production of hydrogen in both alkaline and acidic environments.

摘要

通过电催化将水分解可大量制备高纯度氢气, 这一过程需要高效能低成本的电催化剂材料. 二硫化钼价格低廉、 资源丰富, 且具有类似贵金属铂的氢吸附自由能, 是一种潜在的高效制氢电催化剂. 然而其仍面临着析氢过电位偏高、 稳定性差、 难以批量制备、 在碱性环境下催化析氢活性较低等问题, 限制了其实际应用. 目前, 大量文献证实制造缺陷是一种有效的优化二硫化钼电催化活性的方法. 本文通过球磨还原法制备了一种富含缺陷的二硫化钼析氢反应电催化剂. 这种新型的富缺陷二硫化钼催化剂在酸碱性条件下都显示出较高的催化活性, 在酸性条件下, 过电位为176 mV时其电流密度可达10 mA cm−2; 在碱性条件下, 过电位为189 mV时其电流密度可达10 mA cm−2, 超过了大部分报道的析氢反应电催化剂. 此外, 富缺陷二硫化钼材料显示出较小的塔菲尔斜率和良好的电化学稳定性, 进一步证实了析氢反应催化活性的增强. 这种通过球磨还原制造缺陷的思路为未来催化剂的设计与性能优化开辟了一条新的道路, 且该方法简单, 适于大规模的工业生产.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Basic Research of China (2015CB932500 and 2013CB632702) and the National Natural Science Fundation of China (51302141, 51501008, U1560103 and 61274015).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Li-Fang Zhang  (张丽芳) & Lu-Ning Wang  (王鲁宁)

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Li-Fang Zhang  (张丽芳), Gang Ou  (欧刚), Hehe Wei  (魏呵呵) & Hui Wu  (伍晖)

  3. Institute of Microstructure and Property of Advanced Materials, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China

    Xiaoxing Ke  (柯小行)

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  1. Li-Fang Zhang  (张丽芳)
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  2. Xiaoxing Ke  (柯小行)
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  3. Gang Ou  (欧刚)
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  4. Hehe Wei  (魏呵呵)
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  6. Hui Wu  (伍晖)
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Correspondence to Lu-Ning Wang  (王鲁宁) or Hui Wu  (伍晖).

Additional information

Li-Fang Zhang is now a PhD candidate of the School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing. Her current research is focused on the electrocatalysis for hydrogen evolution.

Lu-Ning Wang is a professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing. His research interests cover electrochemical process of functional materials and electrochemical process of materials in severe cultures.

Hui Wu received his BE degree in 2004 and PhD degree in 2009 from Tsinghua University. After postdoc. research in Prof. Yi Cui’s group at Stanford University (2009–2013), he became an associate professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering in Tsinghua University. He has received academic honors and awards including the 1000 Talents Program for Young Scholars, the National Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award, the Chief Youth Scientist of National 973 Program, the National Natural Science Funds for Outstanding Young Scholar and TR35. His research interest focuses on the materials for energy storage and conversion, advanced functional ceramic materials, flexible electronics materials.

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Zhang, LF., Ke, X., Ou, G. et al. Defective MoS2 electrocatalyst for highly efficient hydrogen evolution through a simple ball-milling method. Sci. China Mater. 60, 849–856 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-017-9086-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-017-9086-9

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