Insertion of platinum nanoparticles into MoS2 nanoflakes for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Pt as a chemical inert metal has been widely applied as the counter electrode in various electrochemical measurements. However, it can also be dissolved and redeposit to the working electrode under certain electrochemical circumstances. Herein we demonstrated a cyclic voltammetry (CV) cycling method to synthesize a catalyst comprising inserted Pt nanoparticles into MoS2 nanoflake stack structures on stainless steel mesh (SSM). The binder-free composite structure exhibits significantly enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalytic activity with an overpotentials of 87 mV at 10 mA cm-2. The deposited Pt nanoparticles significantly enhance the catalytic activity through changing the structure of MoS2 and increasing the amount of active sites. This work provides a new way forward for rational design of the nano-electrocatalysts.