Defect-rich Crystalline WSe2 Nanosheets as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Hongfang Du, Ke Wang, Song He, Kai Yang, Wei Ai, Wei Huang

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The edges of layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are recognized as the active sites for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution, therefore considerable efforts have been devoted to increasing the edge density of TMDs. Given that defect-enriched TMDs are synthesized at mild conditions, their low crystallinity normally results in poor electrochemical stability. Although high-temperature processing is efficient to achieve highly crystalline TMDs, which in turn leads to low electrocatalytic activity due to the loss of reactive defects and edge sites. In this work, defect-enriched WSe2 with high crystallinity was synthesized via a long-term ultrasonic treatment of crystalline WSe2 plates in ethanol. Few-layered WSe2 nanosheets (NSs) were firstly obtained by ultrasonication-assisted exfoliation of WSe2 plates, while island-like domains were subsequently formed under durable ultrasonication. The resultant defect-rich crystalline WSe2 NSs possessing large specific surface area, abundant active sites and high crystallinity exhibit superior electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution reaction.

Translated title of the contribution富缺陷晶态WSe2纳米片:一种潜在的高效低成本析氢反应电催化剂
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1196-1201
Number of pages6
JournalCailiao Daobao/Materials Reports
Volume34
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Jan 2020

Keywords

  • Electrocatalysis
  • Hydrogen evolution reaction
  • Hydrogen production
  • Transition metal dichalcogenides
  • Ultrasonic assisted exfoliation
  • WSe nanosheets
  • Water electrolysis

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