Enhanced electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction from self-assembled monodispersed molybdenum sulfidenanoparticles on an Au electrode

• DOI: 10.1039/c2ee23513g
• Publication Date: 2012-11-21T13:02:02Z
• Authors: Tanyuan Wang; Lu Liu; Zhiwei Zhu; Pagona Papakonsta...; Jingbo Hu; Hongyun Liu; Meixian Li
• Keywords: 7. Clean energy; 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

Ultrasmall molybdenum sulfide nanoparticles with diameters of 1.47 ± 0.16 nm were fabricated from bulk MoS2 by a combination ultrasonication and centrifugation. The then assembled on an Au surface to form film high electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). A Tafel slope 69 mV per decade was measured this the onset potential estimated be −0.09 V. small loading (1.03 μg cm−2) current density (0.92 mA cm−2 at η = 0.15 V) demonstrated extremely catalytic efficiency. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic results revealed that nanoparticle sulfur enriched abundant S edges structural rearrangement rich particles might occur during self-assembly process, resulting in significantly enhanced HER. Electrochemical impedance measurements suggested assembling process optimized conductivity film, which contributed HER activity. Our research has provided new way synthesize active approach achieve enrichment sulfide, have use not only HER, but also photoelectrocatalytic plasmon-enhanced water splitting.