Snowflake-Like Cu2S/MoS2/Pt heterostructure with near infrared photothermal-enhanced electrocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract

Snowflake-like Cu2S/MoS2 heterostructures with varied compositions were constructed via a two-step hydrothermal method. The 45-Cu2S/MoS2 with 45 wt% Cu2S was found as the optimum catalyst, which displayed photothermal enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance under near infrared (NIR) irradiation. After electrochemical deposition of a tiny amount of Pt (45-Cu2S/MoS2/Pt-100s), Schottky barrier was formed between Pt nanoparticles and MoS2 nanosheets. Using 45-Cu2S/MoS2/Pt-100s as an electrocatalyst, low overpotential of 78 mV (@10 mV cm−2) and Tafel slope of 48 mV dec−1 were achieved with the assistance of NIR irradiation. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen production performance of 45-Cu2S/MoS2/Pt-100s was also investigated. The optimal conversion efficiency of 45-Cu2S/MoS2/Pt-100s could reach 0.78% at 0.57 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)). The control of the internal geometric and electronic structure of the catalysts and the aid of photothermal effect in this work provide new ideas for designing high-efficiency hydrogen evolution catalysts.