Work

Effects of molybdenum to sulfur ratio in the synthesis of molybdenum disulfide as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Electrochemical water splitting is a promising method for sustainable hydrogen production with low carbon emissions. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), a two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide, has gained attention as a cost-effective alternative to noble metal-based electrocatalysts. This study investigates the effect of precursor molar ratios on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance of MoS2 synthesized on 3D conductive carbon cloth using the hydrothermal method. MoS2 was synthesized with varying molybdenum-to-sulfur molar ratios (1:4, 1:2, and 1:1), and characterization confirmed the formation of the 2H-MoS2 phase, with an additional α-MoO3 phase. Among the samples, MoS2-14 (1:4 ratio) exhibited the highest HER activity, with a low onset potential of 155 mV, and a Tafel slope of 58 mV dec−1. MoS2-14 had the largest electrochemical active surface area (C dl = 251 mF cm−2) and the lowest charge transfer resistance (R ct = 1.28 Ω), indicating superior conductivity and catalytic performance. Morphological analysis showed that MoS2-14 had a more amorphous structure further enhancing its HER efficiency. These findings demonstrate that precursor molar ratios significantly impact the structural, morphological and electrocatalytic properties of MoS2, with a 1:4 molybdenum-to-sulfur ratio offering optimal performance, providing valuable insights for rational design of high-performance MoS2-based electrocatalysts.

Source: Advances in Natural Sciences Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

DOI: 10.1088/2043-6262/adf96c