Three-dimensional carbon foam/N-doped graphene@MoS2 hybrid nanostructures as effective electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂)-based hybrid nanostructures have attracted much attention as promising alternatives to Pt-based electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction. However, the catalytic performance of these nanostructures is limited by their poor conductivity and small surface area. Herein, using commercial three-dimensional melamine foams (MFs) as the raw material, MoS₂-coated macroporous carbon foam/N-doped graphene hybrid nanostructures (CF–NG@MoS₂) were prepared through a combination of graphene oxide (GO) loading on the MF framework, high-temperature carbonization, and MoS₂ growth. Owing to their unique structure, the as-prepared CF–NG@MoS₂ hybrids exhibited enhanced catalytic performance for the HER.