Defective molybdenum sulfide quantum dots as highly active hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts

• Published in: Nano research 2018-02, Vol.11 (2), p.751-761
• Main Authors: Ou, Gang, Fan, Peixun, Ke, Xiaoxing, Xu, Yushuai, Huang, Kai, Wei, Hehe, Yu, Wen, Zhang, Hongjun, Zhong, Minlin, Wu, Hui, Li, Yadong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ablative materials; Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Conductivity; Electrocatalysts; Energy storage; Hydrogen evolution reactions; Hydrogen storage; Laser ablation; Lasers; Materials Science; Molybdenum; Molybdenum disulfide; Nanotechnology; Optics; Quantum dots; Research Article; Sulfides; 二硫化物; 进化; 高电导率; 氢; 铝; MoS2; 变换技术; 结构
• ISSN: 1998-0124; 1998-0000
• DOI: 10.1007/s12274-017-1684-2

Molybdenum disulfide （MoS2）, a promising non-precious electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction with two-dimensional layered structure, has received increasing attention in recent years. Its electrocatalytic performance has been limited by the low active site content and poor conductivity. Herein, we report a facile and general ultrafast laser ablation method to synthesize MoS2 quantum dots （MS-QDs） for electrocatalytic HER with fully exposed active sites and highly enhanced conductivity. The MS-QDs were prepared by ultrafast laser ablation of the corresponding bulk material in aqueous solution, during which they were partially oxidized and formed defective structures. The as-prepared MS-QDs demonstrated high activity and stability in the electrocatalytic HER, owing to their very large surface area, defective structure, abundance of active sites, and high conductivity. The present MS-QDs can also find application in optics, sensing, energy storage, and conversion technologies.