One-pot synthesis of MoS2(1−x)Se2x on N-doped reduced graphene oxide: tailoring chemical and structural properties for photoenhanced hydrogen evolution reaction. Issue 10 (7th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mosconi, Dario; Kosmala, Tomasz; Lunardon, Marco; Neyman, Alevtina; Bar-Sadan, Maya; Agnoli, Stefano; Granozzi, Gaetano
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale advances. Volume 2:Issue 10(2020)
• Page Start: 4830
• Page End: 4840
• Publication Date: 2020-09-07
• Subjects: 620.5
• DOI: 10.1039/d0na00375a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2516-0230

Abstract

Abstract : Molybdenum sulfoselenides are investigated as photoelectrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Crystallinity and selenium-to-sulphur ratio are key to control activity. Abstract : In this work we designed a one-pot solvothermal synthesis of MoS2(1− x ) Se2 x nanosheets directly grown on N-doped reduced graphene oxide (hereafter N-rGO). We optimized the synthesis conditions to control the Se : S ratio, with the aim of tailoring the optoelectronic properties of the resulting nanocomposites for their use as electro- and photoelectro-catalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The synthesis protocol made use of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (ATM) as MoS2 precursor and dimethyl diselenide (DMDSe) as selenizing agent. By optimizing growth conditions and post-annealing treatments, we produced either partially amorphous or highly crystalline chalcogen-defective electrocatalysts. All samples were tested for the HER in acidic environment, and the best performing among them, for the photoassisted HER. In low crystallinity samples, the introduction of Se is not beneficial for promoting the catalytic activity, and MoS2 /N-rGO was the most active electrocatalyst. On the other hand, after the post-annealing treatment and the consequent crystallization of the materials, the best HER performance was obtained for the sample with x = 0.38, which also showed the highest enhancement upon light irradiation.