VSe 2 quantum dots with high-density active edges for flexible efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

• Published in: Journal of physics. D, Applied physics Applied physics, 2021-05, Vol.54 (21), p.214006
• Main Authors: Wang, Chaolun, Jin, Mengge, Liu, Dongming, Liang, Fang, Luo, Chen, Li, Panlin, Cai, Chunhua, Bi, Hengchang, Wu, Xing, Di, Zengfeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-3727; 1361-6463
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/abe78d

Two-dimensional (2D) metallic transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with large specific surface areas and high conductivities are promising catalysts for electrocatalytic hydrogen production. The highly active edges of the 2D metallic TMDCs are the desirable catalytic sites for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, the vanadium diselenide (VSe 2 ) quantum dots with high-density edge sites are prepared by tip sonication of the self-detached VSe 2 nanosheets. The spontaneously released VSe 2 nanosheets, without chemical-involved transfer, offer a noncontaminated catalyst for HER. Compared to the VSe 2 nanosheets, VSe 2 quantum dots with a high density of active edges present a significant enhancement of the electrocatalytic performance. The reduced overpotential and transfer resistance indicate the lower Gibbs free energy and faster faradic process of the VSe 2 quantum dots for HER. The active edge sites of VSe 2 quantum dots show improved catalytic properties in thermodynamic and kinetic aspects. The VSe 2 quantum dots loaded on a carbon cloth could be used as a flexible electrode for HER. This work provides an effective way to regulate the defects of the 2D TMDCs for high-performance HER catalysts and also offers a catalyst for flexible HER.