In situ coupling of a Co–Mo bimetallic sulfide derived from [CoMo12O40]6− clusters showing highly efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is important for “green” hydrogen production from water electrolysis. Nowadays, there is an urgent need to construct highly efficient electrocatalysts to boost the HER and achieve hydrogen production. Herein, we present the preparation of a new composite Co-Mo bimetallic sulfide supported on carbon cloth (MoS₂/CoS₂/CC) via a one-pot hydrothermal sulfurization strategy using (C₃H₅N₂)₆[CoMo₁₂O₄₀]·10H₂O (CoMo₁₂) as a metal source and thiourea as a sulfur source. The obtained MoS₂/CoS₂/CC catalyst exhibited outstanding HER ability, with an overpotential of 69 mV when the current density is 10 mA cm⁻² in KOH solution, showing comparable performance with those of the advanced Pt/C electrodes tested under the same conditions. Additionally, the results of XRD after the catalytic reaction showed that the electrode had excellent stability in the electrolyte of 1.0 M KOH.