Photosensitive Electrocatalysts Based on Ni-WS2 Nanohybrids for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Efficient water splitting by electrolysis plays an indispensable role for hydrogen fuel generation in green energy devices. In order to implement high-performance water splitting, it is usually necessary to design economically viable, effective and stable electrocatalysts to reduce activation potential barriers. Herein, we report the photosensitive Ni-WS2 Nanohybrids for enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Optimization of chemical composition in catalysts has resulted in the rapid water electrolysis which was further promoted by illumination of 532 nm light. Obvious water splitting has been achieved at over potential of as low as -210 mV vs RHE without and -190 mV vs RHE (at -10 mA/cm2) with illumination for hydrogen evolution reaction. Being a photosensitive electrocatalysts, Ni-WS2 Nanohybrids have demonstrated stable time-resolved photoresponse with photocurrent of 12.7 mA/cm2 at -250 mV V vs RHE as well as self-powered photodetection with current 0.68 mA/cm2. Finally, HER with improvement under visible light illumination has shown considerable development in clean energy generation by using renewable energy sources.