The effect of varying solvents for MoS2 treatment on its catalytic efficiencies for HER and ORR. Issue 9 (16th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chua, Xing Juan; Pumera, Martin
• Is Part Of: Physical chemistry chemical physics. Volume 19:Issue 9(2017)
• Page Start: 6610
• Page End: 6619
• Publication Date: 2017-02-16
• Subjects: Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; 541.3
• DOI: 10.1039/c6cp08205j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9076

Abstract

Abstract : The use of various solvents (ACN, DMF, EtOH, MeOH and water) as dispersion medium for powdered MoS2 were investigated for their varying catalytic efficiencies for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Abstract : MoS2 has been investigated intensively in the field of catalysis for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in particular. Much effort has been made by various research teams worldwide to look into the specific catalyst design such as nano-structuring, defect engineering or hybrid structures. But what evades us is the fundamental preparation method for the dispersion of powdered MoS2 . Individual research teams with their best practices might be subjective and not validated by extensive experimental results. In this report, we find that the overpotential for the catalysis of HER varies from 0.57 to 0.72 V (freshly prepared) when different dispersion media are used, such as acetonitrile, N, N -dimethylformamide, ethanol, methanol and water. In terms of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysis, less significant differences were found. With both HER and ORR pertinent to the fuel cell industry, this report would serve as an insight to readers when comparing the results of MoS2 catalysis across the literature from different research groups when different solvents were used as the dispersion medium.