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Controlled Chemical Functionalization toward 3D‐2D Carbon Nanohorn‐MoS 2 Heterostructures with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity for Protons Reduction
Author(s) -
Kagkoura Antonia,
Arenal Raul,
Tagmatarchis Nikos
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202105287
Subject(s) - tafel equation , materials science , electrocatalyst , heterojunction , overpotential , conductivity , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , electrode , optoelectronics , electrochemistry , chemistry , engineering
Abstract The realization of novel heterostructures arising from the combination of nanomaterials is an effective way to modify their physicochemical and electrocatalytic properties, giving them enhanced characteristics stemming from their individual constituents. Interfacing carbon nanohorns (CNHs) possessing high porosity, large specific surface area, and good electrical conductivity, with MoS 2 owning multiple electrocatalytic active sites but lacking significant conductivity, robust interactions, and effective structure, can be a strategy to boost the electrocatalytic reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen. Herein, in a stepwise approach, complementary functional groups are covalently introduced at the conical tips and sidewalls of CNHs, along with the basal plane of MoS 2 , en route the construction of 3D‐2D CNH‐MoS 2 heterostructures. The increased MoS 2 loading onto CNHs, improving and facilitating charge delocalization and transfer in neighboring CNHs, along with the plethora of active sites, results in excellent electrocatalytic activity for protons reduction, same as that of commercial Pt/C. Minute overpotential is registered, low Tafel slope and small charge‐transfer resistance for electrocatalyzing the evolution of hydrogen from the newly prepared heterostructure of 0.029 V, 71 mV dec −1 , and 34.5 Ω, respectively. Furthermore, the stability of the 3D‐2D CNH‐MoS 2 heterostructure is validated after performing 10 000 ongoing electrocatalytic cycles.