Research on Hydrothermal Decoration of TiO2 Nanotube Films with Nanoplatelet MoS2 Species

Abstract

In this study, novel electrodes were prepared via decoration of nanotubed TiO2 (TiNT) films with crystalline two-dimensional (2D) MoS2 species by a one-step hydrothermal synthesis approach. Obtained products were characterized in detail by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, U-I measurements and X-ray diffraction techniques. The influence of hydrothermal synthesis conditions on the composition and morphology of the products formed in the solution and within the TiNT film are also discussed. For the first time, acceptable decoration of TiNT films, by tethering 2D layered MoS2 leaflets onto the TiO2 nanotubes, and on the film surface was obtained in the low concentration solutions, while the performance of these heterostructures in relation to electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was tested. Stable catalytic activity of the obtained 2D MoS2-in-TiNT films was demonstrated under intense HER conditions within the potential window [−0.2 to −0.4 V] vs. RHE with a notably low Tafel slope of 33 mV/decade.