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Two dimensional Tin Selenide (SnSe) nanosheets (NSs) have been prepared via a facile hydrothermal intercalation and exfoliation route. Morphological test verifies high yield of SnSe NSs with good quality. Additional X-ray diffraction pattern and Raman spectra are carried out and confirm the exfoliated SnSe nanosheet is pure and well crystalized. AFM measurement, along with the SEM images and Raman shifts, reveals few-layers SnSe nanosheet has been successfully obtained after hydrothermal intercalation and exfoliation route. Photoelectrochemical tests also demonstrate the photocurrent density of SnSe NSs is greatly improved compare to that of bulk SnSe. Photocurrent density of exfoliated SnSe NSs can achieve 16 μA/cm2 when the applied potential is 0.8 V, which is nearly four times higher than that of bulk SnSe. This work demonstrates that the two-dimensional SnSe NSs may have a great potential application in photovoltaic devices.

Novel TiO2/MoSe2 catalyst has been synthesized via a hydrothermal method. The morphologies, microstructures and optical properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, the result show that a large quantity of MoSe2 nanosheets (NSs) were obtained from MoSe2 bulks by lithium intercalatation way and TiO2 nanoparticles has been grown on the NSs successfully. According to the photoelectrochemical measurements, the TiO2/MoSe2 hybrid nanostructures show the photocurrent density of 15 μA/cm2, which is much higher than bare TiO2 of 8 μA/cm2 and bare MoSe2 of 10 μA/cm2. It is proposed that type-II heteroshtucture of TiO2/MoSe2 can efficiently promote photocatalytic activity.

Two-dimensional NiSe2 nanosheets arrange on three-dimensional carbon cloths (CC) have been synthesized through a facile two-step hydrothermal process. The as-prepared NiSe2/CC photoelectrode demonstrates outstanding photoelectrochamical (PEC) performance. Subsequently, a series of characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra are carried out and confirm a well crystalline NiSe2/CC. Additional morphological and microstructural tests depict large-scale NiSe2 nanosheets are uniformly aligned on the basement of conductive carbon cloth. The PEC measurements show the steady photocurrent density can be effectively raised from 10 to 600 μA/cm2 when bias potential increases from 0 to 0.5 V, which is proposed to be attributed to the adequate exposure of active sites and reduction of surface contact resistance provided by carbon cloth. The structure and performances of hydrothermal synthesized NiSe2/CC suggest promising applications in the field of PEC hydrogen production.

A facile one-pot hydrothermal route was presented for the synthesis of novel Ni3S2 hierarchical dendrites with a three-dimensional (3D) framework. Through adjusting the reaction temperature and reaction time, various morphologies of Ni3S2 nanostructures were obtained. The as-prepared Ni3S2 samples have been characterized with X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectrum, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. A possible growth mechanism was proposed to illustrate the formation procedure of Ni3S2 3D hierarchical dendrites. Moreover, the electrochemical performances of all the prepared samples used as supercapacitor electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammerty and the galvanostatic charge/discharge tests. Interestingly, the Ni3S2 hierarchical dendrites electrode exhibits excellent electrochemical properties, which can be attributed to enough electroactive sites for redox action provided by special hierarchical dendrites with individual 3D framework.

2D photocatalytic TiO2/MoS2 hybrid nanosheets (HNs) have been prepared via a facile hydrothermal process. X-ray diffraction patterns and Raman spectra are carried out and confirm a well crystalized anatase and 2H-MoS2 hybridization. Additional morphological and microstructural tests verify a distinct MoS2 framework, indicating the relatively stability of the MoS2 nanosheet platform with a high specific surface area. UV–vis spectra and electrochemical impedance spectra exhibit an enhanced light absorption ability and conductivity of TiO2/MoS2 compared to that of just TiO2. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) tests also demonstrate the photocurrent of 20 : 1 TiO2/MoS2 HNs is greatly improved compared to that of as-prepared TiO2. The saturation current density is about 33 µA cm−2 when the applied potential is 0.2 V, which is nearly twice that of pure TiO2 and four times as high as 5 : 1 TiO2/MoS2 HNs and 1 : 1 TiO2/MoS2 HNs. Besides that, the duration test exhibits no detectable distinction after processing 25 cycles. The improved photocatalytic activities are perhaps derived from the high conductivity and the increased active sites for the introduction of co-catalytic MoS2 nanosheets as well as the positive synergetic effect between the TiO2 and MoS2. This work demonstrates that the as-prepared TiO2/MoS2 HNs may have a great potential application in PEC hydrogen production.