Efficient Hydrogen Evolution on Cu Nanodots-Decorated Ni 3 S 2 Nanotubes by Optimizing Atomic Hydrogen Adsorption and Desorption

Low-cost transition-metal dichalcogenides (MS2) have attracted great interest as alternative catalysts for hydrogen evolution. However, a significant challenge is the formation of sulfur–hydrogen bonds on MS2 (S–Hads), which will severely suppress hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here we report Cu nanodots (NDs)-decorated Ni3S2 nanotubes (NTs) supported on carbon fibers (CFs) (Cu NDs/Ni3S2 NTs-CFs) as efficient electrocatalysts for HER in alkaline media. The electronic interactions between Cu and Ni3S2 result in Cu NDs that are positively charged and can promote water adsorption and activation. Meanwhile, Ni3S2 NTs are negatively charged and can weaken S–Hads bonds formed on catalyst surfaces. Therefore, the…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 91645104
• MO
  Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China

  Award: 16lgjc67
• MO
  Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China

  Awards: 2016YFA0202603, 2015CB932304
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province

  Awards: 2017A010103007, 2016A010104004