MoS2 nanosheets on Cu-foil for rapid electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction

• MoS 2 nanosheets were deposited on Cu-electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction. • Electrodes shows low over potential of -70 mV in illuminating condition. • Electrode shows the stability upto 40 hours at current of -10 mA/cm 2 . • Charge transfer resistance of as low as 2.1 Ω cm 2 is achieved. Herein, we demonstrate the MoS 2 /Cu electrodes for photosensitive electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Liquid phase exfoliated MoS 2 nanosheets have been deposited Cu foil by electrophoresis technique for preparation of photosensitive and large area electrodes. Electrodes have shown rapid electrocatalytic HER activity with low over potential of -110 mV in dark and -70 mV vs RHE in illuminating condition. Charge transfer resistance of as low as 4.2 Ω cm 2 is realised which is further reduced to 2.1 Ω cm 2 on light illumination owing to injection of photogenerated electrons. Photosensitive behaviour of MoS 2 nanosheets and MoS 2 /Cu Schottky interface leads to the enhanced rate of electrocatalytic reaction. MoS 2 /Cu electrode has shown stability upto 40 hours. Present finding encourages the production of clean energy through HER activity speeding up by illumination visible Sun light.