Crystalline MoP-amorphous MoS2 hybrid for superior hydrogen evolution reaction

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is regarded as a perfect catalyst for electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the active sites are usually concealed due to the unique two dimensional structure of MoS2. Herein, we propose a facile surface engineering modus to improve the HER activity of MoS2. This strategy is demonstrated by in-situ growth of amorphous MoS2 layer on the molybdenum phosphide (MoP) nanoparticles anchored on the carbon nanotubes (MoS2/MoP/CNT). The HER activity is significantly promoted both through the defect engineering of amorphous MoS2 and the synergistic effect between the MoS2 and MoP phases. The MoS2/MoP/CNT sample presents significantly higher HER performance than the pure phase of MoP/CNT and MoS2/CNT samples, requiring overpotentials of 73 and 141 ​mV to drive a current density of 10 and 100 ​mA ​cm-2.