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Embedding Amorphous Molybdenum Sulfide within a Porous Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) Matrix to Enhance its H 2 ‐evolving Catalytic Activity and Robustness
Author(s) -
Nguyen Anh D.,
Pham Phuong T.,
Tran Dai C.,
Nguyen Loan T.,
Tran Phong D.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemistry – an asian journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1861-471X
pISSN - 1861-4728
DOI - 10.1002/asia.202000795
Subject(s) - poly(3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene) , materials science , catalysis , pedot:pss , chemical engineering , electrochemistry , electrolyte , sulfide , tin oxide , amorphous solid , polymerization , inorganic chemistry , oxide , electrode , polymer , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , metallurgy , engineering
Amorphous molybdenum sulfide (MoS x ) is a promising alternative to Pt catalyst for the H 2 evolution in water. However, it is suffered of an electrochemical corrosion. In this report, we present a strategy to tack this issue by embedding the MoS x catalyst within a porous poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) matrix. The PEDOT host is firstly grown onto a fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode by electrochemical polymerization of EDOT monomer in an acetonitrile solution to perform a porous structure. The MoS x catalyst is subsequently deposited onto the PEDOT by an electrochemical oxidation of [MoS 4 ] 2− monomer. In a 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 electrolyte solution, the MoS x /PEDOT shows higher H 2 ‐evolving catalytic activities (current density of 34.2 mA/cm 2 at −0.4 V vs RHE) in comparison to a pristine MoS x grown on a planar FTO electrode having similar catalyst loading (24.2 mA/cm 2 ). The PEDOT matrix contributes to enhance the stability of MoS x catalyst by a significant manner. As such, the MoS x /PEDOT retains 81 % of its best catalytic activity after 1000 potential scans from 0 to −0.4 V vs . RHE, whereas a planar MoS x catalyst is completely degraded after about 240 potential scans, due to its complete corrosion.