Electronically modulated bimetallic telluride nanodendrites atop 2D nanosheets using a vanadium dopant enabling a bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting

Abstract

Developing cost-effective, efficient, and durable bifunctional non-noble metal electrocatalysts is crucial for addressing the energy crisis. Electronic modulation of intrinsic materials by vanadium doping enhances catalytic activity; thus, unique nanodendrites over 2D nanosheets of vanadium-doped CoTe₂/MoTe₂ on carbon cloth (V-CoTe₂/MoTe₂@CC) are engineered by hydrothermal treatment and subsequent tellurization. V dopants modulate the electronic environment of CoTe₂/MoTe₂, increasing binding energies, decreasing the energy barrier, and creating multiple active sites at elevated lattices to accelerate the reaction kinetics for water splitting. As a result, V-CoTe₂/MoTe₂@CC shows outstanding catalytic performance for the HER (η₁₀ = 79 mV), OER (η₁₀ = 249 mV), and overall water splitting requiring 1.51 V to deliver 10 mA cm⁻². V-CoTe₂/MoTe₂@CC demonstrates impressive durability for up to 100 h of continuous operation, signifying its potential practical application. This work establishes V-CoTe₂/MoTe₂@CC as an effective bifunctional electrocatalyst and also introduces a salient approach to tuning electronic structures for high-performance electrocatalysts.