Defect- and S-rich ultrathin MoS2 nanosheet embedded N-doped carbon nanofibers for efficient hydrogen evolution

Abstract

As advanced catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), MoS₂-based electrocatalysts have attracted tremendous attention due to their enhanced HER activity. Herein, a facile method is reported to prepare a new type of defect- and S-rich ultrathin MoS₂ nanosheet embedded N-doped carbon nanofiber composite (MoS₂/NCNFs), which demonstrates a small HER overpotential of 135 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and a large cathodic current density of 65.6 mA cm⁻² at only 200 mV. Furthermore, a small Tafel slope of 48 mV dec⁻¹, a large exchange current density of 24.2 μA cm⁻², as well as superior cycling stability are obtained. This success of embedding defect- and S-rich ultrathin MoS₂ nanosheets in N-doped carbon nanofibers paves a new avenue for highly efficient catalysts for HER in the near future.