Aggregation induced edge sites actuation of 3D MoSe <sub>2</sub> /rGO electrocatalyst for high‐performing water splitting system
Gnanaprakasam Janani, Subramani Surendran, Dong‐Kyu Lee, Sathyanarayanan Shanmugapriya, Hyunjung Lee, Yuvaraj Subramanian, Uk Sim
Abstract
Abstract 2D materials are regarded as promising electrocatalysts for water splitting because of their advances in providing ample active sites and improving electrochemical reaction kinetics. 2D MoSe 2 has a greater intrinsic electrical conductivity and lower Gibbs free energy for reactant adsorption. However, there is still room for improvement in the electrocatalytic performance of MoSe 2 for high‐performance electrochemical water splitting devices. Herein, the in situ preparation of heterostructure made of covalently bonded MoSe 2 and rGO is reported. The obtained electrocatalyst contains the aggregated 3D structured MoSe 2 over rGO, which is covalently bonded together with more edge sites. The active edge sites of MoSe 2 /rGO are dynamically involved in the electrocatalytic activity while facilitating electron transfer. Hence, the MoSe 2 /rGO heterostructure requires a low cell voltage of 1.64 V to reach 100 mA cm −2 in water splitting with high reaction kinetics. The aggregated MoSe 2 over rGO with more edge sites exposed by the 3D structure of MoSe 2 and the interfacial covalent bond in between them provides a favorable electronic structure for the HER and OER with low overpotentials and high current densities and enhances the stability of the electrocatalyst. This work presents an attractive and cost‐effective electrocatalyst suitable for industrial‐scale hydrogen fuel production.