Optimized expanding of interlayer distance for molybdenum disulfide towards enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction
Abstract
Adjusting the hydrogen-binding free energy (ΔGH*) of two dimensional (2D) MoS2 by changing the interlayer distance has been an effective strategy to improve the intrinsic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, a facile solvothermal access via various ratio of N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF)/H2O has been used to modulate interlayer distance of nanostructured MoS2. With increasing of DMF, the interlayer distance of MoS2 can be expanded to 9.4 Å with smaller sizes, which may be derived from intercalation effect of DMF. The certain ratio of DMF/H2O (volume ratio of 19/1, MoS2-D19H1) leads to the largest interlayer distances of 10.0 Å and the smallest size of nanospheres with less stacking than counterparts synthesized at other ratios of DMF/H2O. The expanded interlayer distance of MoS2-D19H1 may change electronic structure of active sites for HER, implying the improved ΔGH* and the intrinsic activity of MoS2. The smallest size also suggests the more exposure of active sites for HER. The electrochemical measurements demonstrate that MoS2-D19H1 shows the best electrocatalytic performances than MoS2 samples synthesized at other ratio of DMF/H2O. This work may provide a promising strategy to tune the interlayer distance of 2D-layered transition metal dichalcogenide for efficient HER.
- Publication:
-
Applied Surface Science
- Pub Date:
- January 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.09.229
- Bibcode:
- 2018ApSS..428..948C
- Keywords:
-
- MoS<SUB>2</SUB>;
- Interlayer spacing;
- N;
- N-dimethylformamide;
- Solvothermal;
- Hydrogen evolution reaction