Toward heterostructured transition metal hybrids with highly promoted electrochemical hydrogen evolution

It is essential to precisely develop low-cost and sustainable electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Herein, we explore a robust and controllable hydrothermal approach to synthesize defect-rich MoS2 nanoflakes on exfoliated MoS2 and WS2. Such well-designed hetero-structural hybrids of MoS2/exfoliated MoS2 and MoS2/exfoliated WS2 exhibit dramatically promoted electrochemical activity and high stability. The as-grown MoS2 nanoflakes hybridized on exfoliated MoS2 and WS2 generate abundant active edge sites (rich in basal defects) and unsaturated sulfur atoms, resulting in highly enhanced electrocatalytic performance. This is expected to pave the way towards a significant improvement in transition metal dichalcogenide heterostructures as electrocatalysts.