MoS2 nanosheets (NS) were directly grown on carbon nanofiber (CF) and employed as electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The structural, surface morphology and chemical composition of the nanocomposites were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energydispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. XRD and TEM-EDS measurements showed that the molybdenum oxide precursor was successfully transferred into MoS2 nanosheets. It was confirmed from FESEM and TEM images that NS was uniformly distribution on surface of the CF. The HR-TEM images disclosed that the NS was formed perpendicular to surface of CF fibers via the MoS2 layers growth parallel to CF surface which act as interface. The HER current density was about 12 mA cm−2 at catalyst loading of only 60 μg cm−2 at -0.384 V (vs. RHE).
Keywords: Molybdenum disulfide, Nanocomposite, Electrocatalyst, Hydrogen evolution