Phosphorus-Doped MoS2 Nanosheets Supported on Carbon Cloths as Efficient Hydrogen-Generation Electrocatalysts

Abstract

Highly efficient and stable non-noble metal electrocatalysts for hydrogen generation are desired for sustainable development of energy conversion and storage. Here, a facile low-temperature phosphidation process is developed for phosphorus doping into molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets directly synthesized on carbon cloths to function as an integrated electrode for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction. The optimal phosphorus-doped (3.3 at%) MoS2 nanosheets exhibit substantially lower overpotentials of 133 and 189 mV to drive the current densities of 20 and 100 mA cm-2, respectively, as compared with undoped MoS2, and an impressively small Tafel slope of 67.0 mV dec−1. The excellent stability in acid media also makes the phosphorus-doped MoS2 nanosheet catalysts promising candidates for hydrogen generation in practical applications.