MoS2 nanorods anchored reduced graphene oxide nanohybrids for electrochemical energy conversion applications

Herein, the hydrothermal route has been explored to design a novel network of molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) nanorods/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) by varying wt% of MoS2 (10–30 wt%) for the highly stable and efficient electrochemical energy conversion applications involving dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs); and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The MoS2/rGO nanohybrids network has been systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). XRD, HRTEM, Raman and XPS investigations confirmed the uniform and homogenous anchoring of MoS2 nanorods on the rGO sheets in the MoS2/rGO nanohybrids. It has been revealed that the wt% of MoS2 in MoS2/rGO nanohybrids strongly affects the anchoring of MoS2 nanorods on rGO sheets which in turn affects their electrocatalytic behavior. The optimized MoS2/rGO nanohybrids with 20 wt% of MoS2 nanorods exhibited long term stability and highly efficient electrocatalytic behavior. DSSCs assembled with MoS2/rGO nanohybrids as CE exhibited comparable power conversion efficiency (PCE) relative to standard DSSC. The optimized anchoring of MoS2 on rGO sheets resulted in high current density as compared to rGO based electrocatalyst in MORs. Moreover, reproducibility of CV curves revealed high stability of MoS2/rGO nanohybrids under harsh electrolyte medium. •Synthesis of novel network of molybdenum sulfide nanorods (MoS2)/ reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using hydrothermal method.•Optimized MoS2/rGO nanohybrids (20 wt% of MoS2) exhibits long term stability and high electrocatalytic behavior.•MoS2/rGO nanohybrids act as effective replacement of Pt electrocatalyst in DSSCs and methanol oxidation reactions in DMFCs.