Defective-MoS2/rGO heterostructures with conductive 1T phase MoS2 for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract As a two-dimensional material, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) exhibits great potential to replace metal platinum-based catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, poor electrical conductivity and low intrinsic activity of MoS2 limit its application in electrocatalysis. Herein, we prepare a defective-MoS2/rGO heterostructures material containing 1T phase MoS2 and evaluate its HER performance. The experimental results shown that defective-MoS2/rGO heterostructures exhibits outstanding HER performance with a low overpotential at 154.77 mV affording the current density of 10 mA cm−2 and small Tafel slope of 56.17 mV dec−1. The unique HER performance of as-prepared catalyst can be attributed to the presence of 1T phase MoS2, which has more active sites and higher intrinsic conductivity. While the defects of as-prepared catalyst fully expose the active sites and further improve catalytic activity. Furthermore, the interaction between MoS2 and rGO heterostructures can accelerate electron transfer kinetics, and effectively ensure that the obtained catalyst displays excellent conductivity and structural stability, so the as-prepared catalyst also exhibits outstanding electrochemical cycling stability. This work provides a feasible and effective method for preparation of defective-MoS2/rGO heterostructures, which also supplies a new strategy for designing of highly active and conductive catalysts for HER.