Rational Design of Efficient Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction: Single Layers of WS2 Nanoplates Anchored to Hollow Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanofibers

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b09447
• Publication Date: 2015-12-14T14:39:18Z
• Authors: Sunmoon Yu; Jaehoon Kim; Ki Ro Yoon; Ji-Won Jung; Jihun Oh; Il-Doo Kim
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

To exploit the benefits of nanostructuring for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), we employed coaxial electrospinning to synthesize single-layered WS2 nanoplates anchored to hollow nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (WS2@HNCNFs) as efficient electrocatalysts. For comparison, bulk WS2 powder and single layers of WS2 embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (WS2@NCNFs) were synthesized and electrochemically tested. The distinctive design of the WS2@HNCNFs enables remarkable electrochemical performances showing a low overpotential with reduced charge transfer resistance, a small Tafel slope, and excellent durability. The experimental results highlight the importance of nanostructure engineering in electrocatalysts for enhanced HER.