Three-Dimensional Structures of MoS₂@Ni Core/Shell Nanosheets Array toward Synergetic Electrocatalytic Water Splitting

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media using non-noble metal catalysts with great efficiency represents a critical challenge in current water-alkaline and chlor-alkali electrolyzers. Herein, we demonstrate that the MoS2@Ni core/shell nanosheets array vertically aligned on carbon cloth (MoS2@Ni/CC) is a highly active electrocatalyst for HER. In alkaline solutions, MoS2@Ni/CC needs overpotentials of 91, 118, and 196 mV to approach current densities of 10, 20, and 100 mA cm(-2), respectively, exceeding behavior of commercial Pt/C catalyst at high current densities. Additionally, this catalyst also exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity toward HER in neutral electrolytes. Such high hydrogen evolution activities are due to synergistic electrocatalytic effects between MoS2 core and Ni shell.