MoS2-supported on free-standing TiO2-nanotubes for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction. (7th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Komba, Nathanael; Zhang, Gaixia; Pu, Zonghua; Wu, Mingjie; Rosei, Federico; Sun, Shuhui
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 45:Number 7(2020)
• Page Start: 4468
• Page End: 4480
• Publication Date: 2020-02-07
• Subjects: Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.12.044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: The electrochemical production of hydrogen is a promising and flexible approach towards the conversion of intermittent renewable energy sources into clean chemical fuel. However, low-cost, efficient, and durable electrocatalysts are yet to be developed to attain economies of scale in hydrogen generation. In this study, we fabricated highly ordered free-standing TiO2 nanotube arrays (TiO2 -NTs), by simply anodizing Ti foils. The tube length, diameter, wall thickness, and surface structure of the TiO2 -NTs can be controlled by adjusting the anodization conditions. Subsequently, we synthesized and supported MoS2 layers on free-standing TiO2 -NTs as an active material for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), using a slow evaporation method. The layers of MoS2 uniformly disperse on the entire surface of the TiO2 -NTs composite. The electrochemical test shows that the MoS2 -supported free-standing (MoS2 /TiO2 -NTs) system exhibits excellent HER performance in acidic media with a low overpotential at 10 mA cm −2 (170 mV), as well as small Tafel slope (70 mV decade −1 ). Also, the MoS2 /TiO2 -NTs displays superior durability for HER after 5000 continuous potential cycles between −0.4 and + 0.2 (V vs. RHE). Our results demonstrate the potential application of MoS2 /TiO2 -NTs composite for cost-effective electrochemical production of hydrogen. Highlights: Highly ordered free-standing TiO2 nanotubes were fabricated by anodization of the Ti foils. The slow evaporation highly disperses the MoS2 layers on TiO2 -nanotubes with exposed edge sites. The MoS2 /TiO2 -nanotubes exhibits efficient HER activity in both acidic and alkaline media. The MoS2 /TiO2 -nanotubes exhibits excellent durability. The free-standing TiO2 -nanotubes serves as excellent supports of MoS2 for efficient HER.