Reduced graphene oxide-based MoS2 nanocomposite as an electrocatalyst with high performance for oxygen evolution reaction
摘要
T he decrease in fossil fuel resources has driven significant studies into renewable energy alternatives, where the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) serves as a vital process in advancing renewable energy technologies, particularly in water-splitting electrolysis. Among various electrocatalysts, transition-metal sulfides have emerged as promising candidates for efficient OER catalysis. In this work, a MoS₂/rGO nanocomposite was prepared by a hydrothermal process conditioned at 160 ℃ for 7 h, aiming to enhance OER activity. Comprehensive structural characterizations confirmed the successful fabrication of the composite, with phase purity and crystallinity verified through multiple analytical techniques. Brunauer Emmett Teller’s (BET) isotherm analysis revealed the mesoporous structure of nanocomposite with an improved surface area (SA), facilitating enhanced electrocatalytic performance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging demonstrated that the incorporation of rGO effectively mitigated MoS₂ agglomeration, improving active site accessibility and charge transfer kinetics. Furthermore, the composite examined an improved Tafel gradient of 37 mV dec−1, indicative of favorable reaction kinetics. Long-term durability assessments, including chronoamperometry and linear sweeping voltammetry (LSV) cycling tests, confirmed the stability of the catalyst for up to 60 h and 5000th cycles in alkaline media. This investigation provides important insights into the improvement of MoS₂-based electrocatalysts for OER applications, highlighting the enhanced long-term stability and electrochemical activity of the MoS₂/rGO composite.