One-step fabrication of MoS2/Ni3S2 with P-doping for efficient water splitting

Abstract

Designing and building high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysts is critical for water splitting. Herein, an efficient P-doped molybdenum disulfide/nickel subsulfide (abbreviated as P-MoS₂/Ni₃S₂/NF hereafter) catalyst was rationally prepared through a facile one-step hydrothermal process. The heterogeneous structure formed by the combination of MoS₂ and Ni₃S₂ can improve the electrolytic performance of water in an alkaline medium. The addition of a P source in the reaction reduces the agglomeration of the catalyst, and the electronic structure of MoS₂/Ni₃S₂ is simultaneously optimized by the doped P atoms in MoS₂, thus promoting conductivity and increasing the valence state of the Ni species. Low overpotentials of only 136 mV and 95 mV are required to generate 10 mA cm⁻² for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), respectively. Most significantly, when P-MoS₂/Ni₃S₂/NF is used as the cathode and anode for the electrolysis of water, a voltage of 1.48 V is required to produce 10 mA cm⁻². This work provides feasible ideas for the rational construction of bifunctional catalysts with outstanding performance, which may offer a reference for designing non-precious electrocatalysts for water splitting.