Recent advances in transition metal dichalcogenide-based heterostructured materials for electrochemical water splitting applications

Abstract

Exploring renewable and sustainable energy materials as substitutes for fossil fuels presents a promising approach for addressing global challenges such as energy scarcity and environmental degradation. Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD)-based heterostructured materials have emerged as promising electrocatalysts, garnering increasing interest due to their high efficiency in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and/or oxygen evolution reaction (OER). This review provides an outline of the current advancements in using TMD-based heterostructured materials as electrocatalysts for the HER and OER. We begin with a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of electrochemical water splitting, followed by an overview of various TMD-based heterostructure combinations, a summary of the different synthesis techniques, and a discussion of the characterization methods employed for these materials. Moreover, special attention is given to structure–performance relationship strategies aimed at enhancing the electrocatalytic activity and durability of TMD-based heterostructured materials for the HER and OER. Finally, we discuss the existing challenges and provide insights into future prospects for TMD-based heterostructured materials as electrocatalysts in water-splitting technologies.