Enhanced alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction of MoO2/Ni3S2 nanorod arrays by interface engineering

Interface engineering is verified as an efficient strategy for enhancing the intrinsic activity of transition metal-based electrocatalysts in alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, the heterostructural MoO2/Ni3S2 nanorod arrays fabricated on nickel foam (MoO2/Ni3S2/NF) are produced by a straightforward and effective hydrothermal approach. Benefiting from interfacial effect and self-supported structure, MoO2/Ni3S2/NF electrocatalyst exhibits remarkable HER catalytic properties and durability with a low overpotential of 74.0 mV for achieving a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH, as well as a long-term stability without obvious attenuation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal electron transfer at the interface domain reduces the energy barrier of the water dissociation step and optimizes H adsorption capability, thereby expediting HER kinetics in alkaline media. This work provides a viable strategy based on interfacial engineering for designing high-efficient HER electrocatalysts.