CoS2/MoS2 decorated with nitrogen doped reduced graphene oxide and multiwalled carbon nanotube 3D hybrid as efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Designing an efficient and stable electrocatalyst made of earth abundant elements to take over expensive noble metal based for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) have been focused. Cobalt disulfide-molybdenum disulfide nanocomposite supported by nitrogen doped reduced graphene oxide and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CoS 2 /MoS 2 @NrGO-MWCNT) is reported as an efficient electrocatalyst for HER. CoS 2 /MoS 2 @N-rGO-MWCNT and ternary hybrids composed of CoS 2 , MoS 2 and N-rGO/MWCNT have been investigated. The catalysts were prepared by facile hydrothermal method, and the optimal doping ratio referred to date cobalt to molybdenum as 2:1 was chosen. It is found that co-existence of CoS 2 , MoS 2 brings abundant active sites and incorporation of MWCNT offered stability. Good dispersion of CoS 2 nanoparticles on graphene and MoS 2 sheets is observed. Additionally nitrogen doping on rGO sheets has been carried out to boost up the electronegativity of the catalyst as a support to enhance the catalytic activity of CoS 2 /MoS 2 for refine structure and better electrical conductance. Precisely, CoS2/MoS2@N-rGO-MWCNT exhibited smaller tafel slope 73 mV dec −1 at overpotential 281 mV for current density 10 mA cm −2 and the substantial stability of 14 h is recorded in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 medium, results suggest that catalyst is viable alternate for HER. • CoS 2 /MoS 2 decorated NrGO -MWCNT hybrid electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction. • Abundant active catalytic sites, from synergistic effect between CoS2 and MoS2 and increased electrical conductivity. • 3D CoS 2 /MoS 2 @NrGO-MWCNT can be a promising candidate for substituting noble metal-based catalysts.