One-step hydrothermal synthesis and electrocatalytic properties of MoS2/activated carbon composite derived from shallots

In this study, an electrode, composed of molybdenum disulfide/activated carbon, derived from shallots (MoS 2 /AC) to form composites, was manufactured using a simple one-step hydrothermal process and doctor blading approach onto a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to, respectively, investigate the crystalline structure and morphology of the samples. MoS 2 /AC has a large surface area, as seen in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imagery, which is a useful attribute for counter electrodes (CEs) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Furthermore, cyclic voltammetry (CV), Tafel polarization curves, and electrochemical impedance (EIS) spectra were used to study the electrocatalytic activity of the MoS 2 /AC electrode. This electrode exhibits a high electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of triiodide ( I 3 - ) to iodide ( I - ) and a low charge transfer resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interface, similar to a Pt electrode. As a result, MoS 2 /AC has good potential as an electrocatalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells, supercapacitors, gas sensors, and energy storage, among other applications. Graphical abstract