Flower-like 1T-MoS2/NiCo2S4 on a carbon cloth substrate as an efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

The 1T-MoS₂/NiCo₂S₄ composite in situ grown on carbon cloth (CC) was successfully prepared by a two-step hydrothermal method as an efficient electrode for the hydrogen evolution reaction. The morphology and composition characterization show that the composite has a flower-like structure with a large number of edges and surfaces exposed, and the content of the 1T phase in MoS₂ is 63%. 1T-MoS₂/NiCo₂S₄/CC exhibits an overpotential of 107 mV at 10 mA cm⁻², and a Tafel slope of 66.4 mV dec⁻¹ in an alkaline electrolyte. After continuous electrolysis for 24 h at an overpotential of 170 mV, 86% of the original current density was retained in an chronoamperometry measurement. The outstanding catalytic performance of the composite is ascribed to its unique structure, high 1T-MoS₂ content and the synergistic catalysis between 1T-MoS₂ and NiCo₂S₄. This work provides a facile and effective strategy for fabricating the 1T-MoS₂/NiCo₂S₄/CC composite and demonstrates that the composite is expected to be a competitive non-noble HER catalyst.