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Title: MoOxSy/Ni3S2 Microspheres on Ni Foam as Highly Efficient, Durable Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Journal Article · · Chemistry of Materials
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3];  [1];  [4]; ORCiD logo [5];  [6];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [7]; ORCiD logo [8]
  1. Beijing Normal University (China)
  2. Ningxia Medical Univ., Yinchuan (China)
  3. Beijing Normal University (China); Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
  4. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai (China)
  5. Valparaiso Univ., IN (United States)
  6. National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu (Taiwan)
  7. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
  8. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States); Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Hydrogen energy derived from water splitting is the cleanest renewable energy source, but it is also very challenging to achieve because the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) requires highly efficient and low-cost electrocatalysts. Here, we have fabricated a novel hierarchical system of amorphous molybdenum oxy/sulfide microspheres with crystalline Ni3S2 intergrown in situ on Ni foam (MoOxSy/Ni3S2/NF) as an outstanding electrocatalyst for HER. The MoOxSy/Ni3S2/NF demonstrates an ultra-low overpotential of 58 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and extremely durable stability (>200 h), suggesting superior performance comparable to that of Pt-C/NF under acidic conditions. The X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) determines the average valence state of Mo to be +(5 + δ), with a coordination motif by O and S. To explain such high HER activity, a [Mo2O2(S,O)4] dimer-based periodic model structure with the average composition of [Mo4O8S4] interfaced with the Ni3S2(101) surface is proposed. The interactions between the Ni of Ni3S2 and bridging S/O of [Mo4O8S4] result in an average formal Mo charge state between +5 and +6, and significant charge transfer from Ni3S2 to [Mo4O8S4] activates the Mo = O bonds. The calculated |ΔGH*| of less than 50 meV suggests that the double-bonded O is the most active site. This work points to the importance of oxy/sulfides with Mon+ (+5 < n < +6) as exceptional electrochemical catalysts for HER.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1868890
Journal Information:
Chemistry of Materials, Journal Name: Chemistry of Materials Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 34; ISSN 0897-4756
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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