Defect-rich MoSx/carbon nanofiber arrays on carbon cloth for highly efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Abstract Engineering MoS 2 catalysts with more active sites and higher conductivity is an effective way to improve its electrochemical activity. Herein, defect-rich amorphous MoS x /carbon nanofiber (CF) arrays on carbon cloth (CC) support (denoted as MoS x /CF/CC) was designed and fabricated, which served as an efficient free-standing electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acid media. This architecture was beneficial to expose more active catalytic sites and improve the electron/ion transport. In addition, abundant defects altered preferred growth direction of MoS x , resulting in the formation of irregular MoS x particles at the surface of CF arrays. The as-synthesized MoS x /CF/CC-2 exhibited excellent stability and superior HER activity, with a small onset overpotential (107 mV) and low Tafel slope (51 mV dec−1). Such excellent electrochemical performance was attributed to the enriched active sites and shortened charge diffusion distance. This work would pave a new way for rational design and fabrication of defect-rich MoS x -based composite electrode for renewable energy applications. Highlights • Defect-rich MoS x /carbon nanofiber arrays on carbon cloth support were fabricated. • Abundant defects altered preferred growth pattern of MoS x. • Defect-rich MoS x could provide more active sites to promote the HER performance. • Carbon nanofiber/carbon cloth was a supporting material for defect-rich MoS x. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]