MoS2/CoS2 with heterostructure in-situ grown on the surface of electrospinning carbon nanotube for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

Hydrogen has been considered a viable substitute for fossil fuels, with the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) being the most sustainable method for producing hydrogen. However, developing non-noble metal electrocatalysts with high HER activity remains a significant challenge. In the present work, electrospinning carbon nanotube was used as a substance to in-situ grow MoS2/CoS2 composite material. The electrospinning carbon nanotube has a high length-diameter ratio, forming a conductive network. The MoS2/CoS2 composite material was neatly ranged on the carbon nanotube surface, resulting in a higher exposed degree of the active sites. Furthermore, there is a heterostructure between MoS2 and CoS2 leading to a visible electron shift. A density functional theory (DFT) study indicated that MoS2/CoS2 has much lower hydrogen adsorption free energy. As a result, the obtained catalyst exhibited excellent HER catalytic properties, with an overpotential of only 124 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope as low as 88.7 mV dec−1 in 1 M KOH. In addition, it also has an excellent long-term stability. [Display omitted] •MoS2/CoS2 was successfully in-situ grown on the electrospinning carbon nanotube.•Carbon nanotube form conductive network to improve electron transfer.•The heterostructure promote electron shift between MoS2/CoS2.•The catalyst shows a low overpotential of 124 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2.