Open AccessReversing Interfacial Catalysis of Ambipolar WSe 2 Single Crystal
Author(s) -
Wang Zegao,
Wu HongHui,
Li Qiang,
Besenbacher Flemming,
Li Yanrong,
Zeng Xiao Cheng,
Dong Mingdong
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.201901382
Subject(s) - ambipolar diffusion , electrocatalyst , materials science , tafel equation , single crystal , overpotential , catalysis , chemical physics , charge carrier , nanotechnology , electrochemistry , chemistry , electron , optoelectronics , crystallography , physics , electrode , biochemistry , quantum mechanics
An improved understanding of the origin of the electrocatalytic activity is of importance to the rational design of highly efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Here, an ambipolar single‐crystal tungsten diselenide (WSe 2 ) semiconductor is employed as a model system where the conductance and carrier of WSe 2 can be individually tuned by external electric fields. The field‐tuned electrochemical microcell is fabricated based on the single‐crystal WSe 2 and the catalytic activity of the WSe 2 microcell is measured versus the external electric field. Results show that WSe 2 with electrons serving as the dominant carrier yields much higher activity than WSe 2 with holes serving as the dominant carrier even both systems exhibit similar conductance. The catalytic activity enhancement can be characterized by the Tafel slope decrease from 138 to 104 mV per decade, while the electron area concentration increases from 0.64 × 10 12 to 1.72 × 10 12 cm −2 . To further understand the underlying mechanism, the Gibbs free energy and charge distribution for adsorbed hydrogen on WSe 2 versus the area charge concentration is systematically computed, which is in line with experiments. This comprehensive study not only sheds light on the mechanism underlying the electrocatalysis processes, but also offers a strategy to achieve higher electrocatalytic activity.