Nanostructured Binder-Free Cost Effective SnS2 Electrocatalyst for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

In this work, we present a binder-free, direct growth of SnS2 nanoflakes on carbon cloth (CC), adopting a cost-effective, one-step hydrothermal technique as an efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The XRD spectrum confirms the phase pure SnS2 nanoflakes with crystallite size 38 \(\pm\) 2 nm. The presence of A1g peak in the Raman spectrum at ~313 cm−1, corresponding to out-of-plane vibration of S-Sn-S atoms, further confirms SnS2 at CC. The detailed electrochemical analysis shows the HER overpotential value of SnS2 as ~411 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm2. The Tafel slope for SnS2@CC is 151 mV dec−1; a lower Tafel slope value suggests the fast reaction kinetics of the electrocatalyst. The chronopotentiometry stability test performed for 6 h suggests that the HER response of the electrocatalyst is quite stable with time. The present findings indicate that the catalytically inactive binder-free growth and nanostructured morphology are the prime factors responsible for the enhanced electrocatalytic activity of SnS2@CC.