Two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide and tungsten disulfide interleaved nanowalls constructed on silk cocoon-derived N-doped carbon fibers for hydrogen evolution reaction

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2016-12, Vol.41 (47), p.21870-21882
• Main Authors: Wang, QingFa, Yanzhang, RuoPing, Ren, XiaoNa, Zhu, Han, Zhang, Ming, Du, MingLiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electrocatalysts; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Molybdenum sulfides; Silk derived N-doped carbon; Tungsten disulfide
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.07.257

Finding cost-effective, active and durable catalyst materials for energy applications, such as electrocatalytic hydrogen production, is an intriguing challenge. Here, a facile and effective approach to the design and construction of two-dimensional MoS2 and WS2 interleaved nanowalls with maximum exposures of active edges on silk-derived N-doped carbon fibers (SNCF) was demonstrated. The morphological evolutions of the MoS2 and WS2 nanocrystals on the SNCF from crescent-like nanosheets to an interleaved nanowall network can be obtained by adjusting the concentrations of the Mo and W precursors. These robust MoS2/SNCF and WS2/SNCF electrocatalysts exhibit prominent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activities with onset potentials of −40 and −96 mV and Tafel slopes of 60 and 66 mV dec−1, respectively. The overpotentials (η) at j = −10 mA cm−2 for MoS2/SNCF and WS2/SNCF are −102 and −157 mV, respectively. In addition, MoS2/SNCF and WS2/SNCF are both able to sustain continuous HER operation for 10 h under working conditions with only a slight degradation in current densities, implying excellent durability and a prospect for practical applications. Two-dimensional MoS2 and WS2 interleaved nanowall network with maximum exposed active edges on silk-derived N-doped carbon fibers (SNCF) was demonstrated. [Display omitted] •MoS2 and WS2 interleaved nanowalls with active edges on SNCF was demonstrated.•These electrocatalysts exhibit prominent HER activities.•Electrons can be delivered directly from SNCF to vertically aligned nanowalls.