A novel approach for high-yield solid few-layer MoS2 nanosheets with effective photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract Few-layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) nanosheets are well applied in many field, but the lack of simple methods for the preparation of solid few-layer MoS 2 nanosheets with high yield and quality has greatly restricted their development. In this work, a facile solvothermal treatment coupled with the liquid exfoliation strategy was conducted to produce solid monodispersed few-layer MoS 2 nanosheets from the MoS 2 stack, and the output can reach as high as approximately 0.3 g/g. The few-layer features were confirmed by characterizations of SEM, TEM, Raman spectra, UV–vis absorption spectrum and PL spectrum. The obtained MoS 2 nanosheets exhibit fantastic dispersity and stability in an NMP solution, which can remain uniform even after one year. In general, pure MoS 2 catalysts show no or poor activity for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution as reported in the literature, however, the prepared MoS 2 nanosheets in this work display excellent photocatalytic H 2 evolution performance of 1241.3 μmol g −1  h −1 due to the synergistic structural and electronic modifications, including a bigger specific surface area, additional exposed active edge sites, superior charge separation and transfer efficiency, and higher reduction potential.